Kathmandu— The China-Laos Railway has transported over 90 million tonnes of cargo since it began operations in December 2021, with more than 21 million tonnes moving across borders, according to China Railway Kunming Group Co., Ltd. As of Tuesday morning, the railway had operated over 80,000 freight trains – including over 23,000 cross-border trains – connecting Kunming in southwest China with Vientiane, Laos and expanding into a significant international logistics network.

Rapid Growth in Freight Volume

Since its launch, the railway has experienced substantial growth in both total cargo volume and cross-border transport. The number of daily cross-border freight trains has increased to 23, while the maximum hauling capacity per train has risen from 2,000 tonnes to 2,800 tonnes. This expansion demonstrates a significant increase in efficiency and capability.

Expanding International Reach

Initially serving as a regional transport corridor, the China-Laos Railway now reaches 19 countries and regions, including Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Bangladesh. The diversity of goods transported has also grown dramatically, expanding from just over 10 categories at the beginning to more than 4,000 today.

Strong Trade Performance

The railway facilitated 17.17 billion yuan (approximately 2.53 billion U.S. dollars) worth of imports and exports in the first half of 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of 33.8 percent. This surge highlights the railway’s contribution to regional trade and economic growth. Authorities in both China and Laos have collaborated to enhance transport capacity and efficiency since the railway's operation began.

Railway authorities continue to strengthen coordination between China and Laos, aiming for sustained growth in cross-border cargo transport.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.