The Laos-China Railway marked a new phase of its growth, as it facilitated the transport of over 2.48 million tons of goods valued at over CNY 10 billion (USD 1.4 billion) between January and May, as reported by Chinese customs via Xinhua.
The railway showed an increase in both freight volume and value, with a 7.9% rise in tonnage and a 33.2% rise in total value from the previous year. In May alone, 512,000 tons of cargo valued at CNY 3.76 billion were moved, setting a monthly record since the 1,035-kilometer route launched in December 2021.
Connecting Kunming in China's Yunnan Province to Laos' Vientiane, the railway has impacted regional trade significantly. As of 22 May, total freight exceeded 60 million tons, with cross-border shipments comprising over 13.9 million tons.
Initially aimed to enhance trade between landlocked Laos and China, the railway now serves as a conduit for goods across Southeast Asia and Europe via China's rail network. The product categories handled have expanded from ten at launch to over 3,000 now.
Main exports from Laos include fresh tropical fruit and cassava. Efficiency improvements have boosted the maximum train load to 2,800 tons, added containers, and reduced customs processing times, cutting transport costs by 30–40% compared to road haulage.
The railway is a part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aimed at integrating China with its southern neighbors. For Laos, it signifies a transition from landlocked status to being "land-linked" within a far-reaching regional supply chain.
Source: The Laotian Times
