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.