On April 7, 2026, a landmark figure will pop up on the data screen of Mengla Port of Kunming Customs: since the opening of the China Laos Railway, the import and export trade volume has exceeded 80 billion yuan. While people are still talking about durian and rubber, the protagonist in the cargo hold of this steel artery has quietly switched to photovoltaic panels and lithium batteries.

Photovoltaic exports surge 43 times

In the first three months of 2026, the import and export value of the China Laos railway hit 6.81 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of more than 60%. Among them, the export of high-tech products represented by photovoltaics and lithium batteries surged 10.4 times year-on-year, and photovoltaic products dominated with a growth rate of 43.2 times. The energy transition in countries such as Thailand and Vietnam has generated a huge demand for installed capacity, and the strict requirements for moisture and earthquake resistance in the transportation of photovoltaic modules are precisely matched by the stable timeliness and low-cost advantages of railways.

Both transportation capacity and customs clearance have improved in quality and leap forward

The railway department has increased the daily operating volume from 2 trains in the initial stage to a maximum of 23 trains, and reduced the clearance time from 40 hours to 2 to 5 hours. Specialized transportation solutions tailored for photovoltaic and cold chain goods are gradually being implemented, with dedicated trains for the entire vehicle achieving door-to-door direct access. The China Laos railway has also completed the connection with the China Europe regular train and the new land sea channel in the west, and its radiation scope has expanded to 19 countries and regions. Keywords: the Belt and Road News Network, China Laos Railway

Product categories reflect industrial upgrading

From fertilizers and daily necessities in the early stages of opening, to photovoltaic modules and new energy vehicles today, the changes in cargo hold items outline a clear curve of China's industrial upgrading. More than 80% of the global photovoltaic production capacity is concentrated in China, and the advantage of the entire industry chain makes China the only market that can meet the large-scale and rapid delivery needs of Southeast Asia. The railway is no longer just a resource corridor, but a steel conveyor belt for China's intelligent manufacturing system to go global.Editor/Gao Xue