A cross-border freight train loaded with Thai durian and Laotian iron ore slowly drove out of Mohan Port and headed north towards Kunming. On that day, the cumulative cross-border freight volume of the China Laos Railway officially exceeded 18 million tons. Since its opening in December 2021, this steel artery with a total length of over 1000 kilometers is connecting China and the Indochinese Peninsula with unprecedented vitality in terms of economic and trade ties.

Leapfrog growth in freight volume

As of March 10, 2026, the cumulative cross-border freight volume of China Laos Railway has exceeded 18 million tons. By 2025, the annual cross-border freight volume will reach 5.46 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 14%; Since entering 2026, the momentum has become even more rapid, with an average daily shipment of 15000 tons of cross-border goods. From exploratory transportation in the early stages of opening to high-frequency operation today, this cross-border railway has proven its core value in the regional logistics system with concrete data.

Category expansion

The change of goods category directly reflects the leap of service level of China Laos railway. In the initial stage of opening, the transportation of goods mainly consisted of more than 10 basic categories such as fertilizers and general merchandise. Nowadays, the category of cross-border goods has expanded to over 3800 types, including electronics, photovoltaics, and cold chain fruits. Photovoltaic modules from China enter Southeast Asia along the railway, while cassava flour from Laos and durian from Thailand are transported directly to the inland Chinese market through cold chain containers, forming a two-way green channel. Keywords: interconnection news network, cross-border transportation of China Laos railway

Activate new vitality in regional economy and trade

Behind 18 million tons is the reduction of logistics costs and improvement of trade efficiency for countless enterprises. The iron ore in Laos, agricultural products in Thailand, and mechanical and electrical products in China have found a faster circulation path under the connection of China Laos railway. As a landmark project of jointly building the the Belt and Road, this railway not only changed the fate of Laos from a land locked country to a land linked country, but also became an important engine for deepening economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN, providing a solid logistics support for the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.Editor/Gao Xue