China, August 2026 – The China-Laos Railway has transported more than 90 million tonnes of cargo since entering service in December 2021, including over 21 million tonnes of cross-border freight. By the morning of August 18, the railway had handled more than 80,000 freight train trips, of which over 23,000 were cross-border services.
The railway’s freight operations have expanded significantly as demand for cross-border transport has grown. Daily cross-border freight services have reached a peak of 23 trains, while the maximum cargo capacity of individual trains has increased from 2,000 tonnes to 2,800 tonnes. The network now serves 19 countries and regions, including Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia and Bangladesh.
The expansion is also reflected in the range of commodities moving through the corridor. The number of cargo categories has increased from more than 10 when the railway first opened to over 4,000 today, indicating a shift from an initially limited freight operation towards a more diversified international logistics service. Railway authorities in China and Laos have also strengthened coordination to improve freight capacity and operational efficiency.
Trade values associated with the railway have also recorded strong growth. During the first half of 2026, the railway handled import and export goods valued at approximately CNY17.17 billion, equivalent to about US$2.53 billion, representing a 33.8% year-on-year increase. The performance follows earlier evidence that the corridor is becoming increasingly important for China-ASEAN trade and the movement of agricultural, industrial and manufactured goods.
The latest milestone demonstrates the growing role of rail connectivity in integrating China with Southeast Asian supply chains. As freight capacity, cross-border services and destination coverage continue to expand, the China-Laos Railway is strengthening its position as a strategic land corridor for regional trade and providing a foundation for deeper multimodal connectivity across ASEAN.
Source: VietnamPlus
China-Laos Railway Surpasses 90 Million Tonnes In Cargo
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Cross-border rail freight is becoming an increasingly important component of Southeast Asia’s regional supply chains, connecting markets beyond conventional road and maritime routes. The China-Laos Railway has now surpassed 90 million tonnes of cumulative cargo, highlighting its rapid development as an international logistics corridor linking China with ASEAN and wider markets.
