The Southern Overland Route combines a short Egypt-to-Turkey sea leg with a TIR truck transit across Iran and Turkmenistan into Uzbekistan. Reefer-confirmed end-to-end. Historically the fastest sea-plus-land combination on this lane — 12–18 days door-to-door.
The route in one sentence
Alexandria (EGALY) → Mersin (TRMER) by reefer feeder ship, then TIR reefer truck via Gürbulak (TR/IR border) → across Iran → Sarakhs (IR/TM border) → Turkmenabat → Bukhara → Tashkent.
The legs
Sea — Alexandria → Mersin
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Origin port | Alexandria — UN/LOCODE EGALY |
| Destination port | Mersin International Port — UN/LOCODE TRMER |
| Alternate | Iskenderun — UN/LOCODE TRISK |
| Mode | East-Med reefer feeder ship |
| Transit time | 2–4 days |
Road — Mersin → Tashkent (TIR)
| Leg | Border | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey → Iran | Gürbulak (TR) / Bazargan (IR) | — |
| Iran transit | — | — |
| Iran → Turkmenistan | Sarakhs (IR) / Sarahs (TM) | — |
| Turkmenistan → Uzbekistan | Farap (TM) / Alat (UZ) | — |
| Total road distance | ~4,500–4,800 km | 9–12 driving days |
Total door-to-door
Alexandria → Tashkent: 12–18 days.
What it suits
- Reefer FCL for fresh fruit and vegetables — citrus, pomegranates, Spunta potatoes, tomatoes, mangoes (with care)
- Single-driver or double-driver TIR loads
- Buyers needing faster transit than sea-rail can offer
Current operating status (April 2026)
The Iran-transit leg has been disrupted by regional events in 2025–26. Trade press reports significant slowdown of freight flows along the Iran route, and operating windows at border posts (Gürbulak, Sarakhs) have been volatile. Quotes on this route are issued live — we re-check border status at the time of booking and recommend the Middle Corridor (TITR) route as the alternative — see the Middle Corridor (TITR).
Common questions
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Is reefer maintained continuously across the road leg? Yes — TIR reefer trucks run on diesel reefer units with continuous datalogging. Setpoint is held throughout the journey; logs return with the invoice.
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What's the typical reefer setpoint? Citrus +4 to +6 °C, pomegranate +5 to +7 °C, Spunta potatoes +4 to +8 °C — confirmed on the datalogger taped to the pallet.
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What documentation is required for the TIR transit? TIR carnet, phytosanitary certificate from Egyptian CAPQ, Certificate of Origin, ACID number via Nafeza, transit visas for the driver(s), Iran transit permit, Bill of Lading, commercial invoice.
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Can this route handle mixed-cultivar FCL? Yes — mixed citrus + pomegranate FCLs, or single-cultivar full loads. Both are standard.
For a CIF Tashkent quote with current border status, send an RFQ — indicative pricing within 48 working hours.