The China-Laos Railway transported over 2.48 million tonnes of import and export cargo valued at more than 10 billion yuan (approximately 1.4 billion U.S. dollars) between January and May this year, according to customs data released on Thursday.
During this period, both freight volume and trade value saw notable increases — with a 7.9 percent year-on-year rise in volume and a 33.2 percent surge in value. In May alone, the railway transported 512,000 tonnes of goods worth 3.76 billion yuan, setting a new monthly record since its opening in December 2021.
Since its launch, the railway has seen strong growth in freight transport. As of May 22, total freight volume exceeded 60 million tonnes, with cross-border shipments surpassing 13.9 million tonnes.
The variety of goods transported has expanded significantly — from just over 10 types initially to more than 3,000 now. These include electronics, photovoltaic products, communication equipment, automobiles, agricultural produce, industrial goods, and daily necessities.