# China-Laos Railway Exceeds 90 Million Tonnes in Total Freight **Category:** Industry News | **Source:** China Railway Kunming Group / Xinhua (english.www.gov.cn) | **Published:** 2026-09-17 | **Updated:** 2026-09-18 **Tags:** China–Laos-Bahn, China, Laos, Kunming, Vientiane, Bahntransport, Schienengüterverkehr, Grenzverkehr, Südostasien, ASEAN, Zollabwicklung, Logistikkorridor, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Seefracht, LKW Transport, Schienentransport, Digitalisierung > The China-Laos Railway is developing into a regional trade corridor. A total of 90 million tonnes of freight have been transported, of which 21 million tonnes crossed borders. --- The China-Laos Railway has transported more than 90 million tonnes of cargo since commencing operations in December 2021. This was reported by China Railway Kunming Group on 18 August 2026. However, this large figure requires clarification: The 90 million tonnes comprises all freight on the railway line. This includes transports that only run within China or within Laos. The quantity actually transported across the Chinese-Laotian border amounts to more than 21 million tonnes. Since opening, over 80,000 freight trains have been counted. More than 23,000 of these were cross-border connections. On peak days, up to 23 cross-border freight trains now operate daily. At the same time, the maximum train load has been increased from 2,000 to 2,800 tonnes. The 1,035-kilometre railway line connects Kunming in China's Yunnan Province with the Laotian capital Vientiane. From a new railway connection, it is gradually becoming a regional trade corridor. According to the operator, more than 4,000 different commodity groups are now transported. The connections extend beyond Laos to include Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Singapore, and Bangladesh. Cargo value is also increasing. In the first half of 2026, imports and exports worth 17.17 billion yuan were processed via the railway. This represented a 33.8 percent increase compared to the same period in the previous year. This figure describes trade value rather than transported tonnage. For shippers, this creates an additional land route between South China and Southeast Asia. It is particularly attractive for time-sensitive goods, machinery, consumer products, and refrigerated food items. The railway does not completely replace maritime freight and road transport. However, it is becoming significantly more important as an additional option in transport planning. --- For dispatchers, this first means: The route is no longer a small pilot line. Frequency, train load capacity, and freight supply have increased significantly. Anyone regularly transporting between South China, Laos, and Thailand should compare rail services with road and sea freight options. In doing so, pre- and on-carriage must be carefully reviewed. Not every shipment travels continuously by rail to the consignee. Depending on the destination, transshipment, trucking, and additional customs clearance may be necessary. Available slots, departure frequencies, and refrigeration capabilities should also be clarified before booking. Shippers should also not be misled by the 90 million tons figure. For international traffic, the 21 million tons is the more important metric. In short: The China-Laos Railway is developing into an established trade route, but careful planning of border clearance and onward transportation remains crucial. --- The China–Laos Railway commenced operations on December 3, 2021. The route connects Kunming with Vientiane and is approximately 1,035 kilometers long. By August 18, 2026, more than 90 million tons of total freight had been transported. Of this, more than 21 million tons accounted for cross-border freight. Overall, more than 80,000 freight trains operated on the line. More than 23,000 trips were cross-border freight trains. The maximum train load was increased from 2,000 to 2,800 tons. The freight commodity range grew from just over ten to more than 4,000 commodity groups. The trade value of imports and exports reached approximately 17.17 billion yuan in the first half of 2026. The trade value was thus 33.8 percent higher than the corresponding period of the previous year. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [Thailand](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/th) - [Malaysia](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/my) - [Singapore](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/sg) - [China](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/cn) - [Vietnam](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/vn) - [Bangladesh](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/bd) - [Cambodia](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/kh) - [Laos](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/la) - [Myanmar](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/mm) ### Glossary - [Export](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/export) - [Cargo](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/cargo) - [Goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/goods-2) - [Intermodal Transportation](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/intermodal-transportation) - [refrigerated transport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/refrigerated-transport-2) - [Sea freight](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/sea-freight) - [Supply Chain](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/supply-chain) - [Transport Scheduling](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/transport-scheduling) - [transport plan](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/transport-plan) - [transport planning](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/transport-planning) - [Cargo handling](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/cargo-handling) - [Goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/goods) - [Customs clearance](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/customs-clearance-5) - [rail freight transport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/rail-freight-transport-4) - [Sea freight](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/sea-freight-2) - [Trade Value](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/trade-value) - [commercial value](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/commercial-value) - [Pre-carriage](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/pre-carriage) - [Cross-border freight traffic](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/cross-border-freight-traffic) - [On-carriage](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/on-carriage) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/chinalaos-bahn-ueberschreitet-90-millionen-tonnen-gesamtfracht-20260914173643](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/chinalaos-bahn-ueberschreitet-90-millionen-tonnen-gesamtfracht-20260914173643)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/chinalaos-bahn-ueberschreitet-90-millionen-tonnen-gesamtfracht-20260914173643](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/chinalaos-bahn-ueberschreitet-90-millionen-tonnen-gesamtfracht-20260914173643)*