China-Laos Railway Total Freight Volume Surpasses 90 Million Tons

Cumulative freight transported along the China-Laos Railway has officially crossed the 90-million-metric-ton mark, state media reported. Cross-border cargo accounted for more than 21 million tons of the total throughput. Since the line began commercial operations in December 2021, over 80,000 freight trains have operated across the corridor, including more than 23,000 cross-border services. In 2026, daily freight volumes have averaged above 67,000 tons, driving the rapid passage of successive volume milestones.

Crossing the 90-million-ton threshold underscores the China-Laos Railway's role as a vital overland logistics artery connecting China with Southeast Asian markets. Sustained growth in freight volume strengthens regional supply chain resilience and facilitates bilateral commerce between China and ASEAN members.

Cumulative freight transported along the China-Laos Railway has exceeded 90 million metric tons, marking another operational milestone for the strategic transport corridor connecting southwest China with Southeast Asia, according to official media reports. Of the total volume recorded since the railway entered commercial operation on December 3, 2021, cross-border shipments accounted for more than 21 million metric tons. Rail authorities have dispatched over 80,000 freight trains across the entire line to date, with dedicated cross-border freight services surpassing 23,000 trips. The pace of transport has maintained steady momentum through 2026. Daily freight volumes along the route have averaged more than 67,000 metric tons this year, allowing the corridor to cross both the 80-million-ton and 90-million-ton thresholds in rapid sequence. State media highlighted the figures as evidence of the route's expanding role as an international logistics conduit linking China with member economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The milestone illustrates the line's growing capacity to serve as an international trade artery rather than merely handling localized domestic cargo. By reducing overland transit times and logistics costs between China's southwestern trade hubs and Southeast Asian markets, the corridor has supported steady flows of manufactured goods, agricultural produce, and industrial materials. As operational coordination and customs clearance procedures continue to mature, the railway is expected to further deepen trade integration across the region, providing an alternative to traditional maritime and overland road routes for cross-border freight.