China-Laos Railway sees surging cargo volume, value in first 10 months

The China-Laos Railway set new records in the first ten months of this year by handling over 4.5 million tonnes of cargo valued at more than 22 billion yuan (about 3.10 billion U.S. dollars), marking year-on-year increases of 12.8 percent in volume and 45.1 percent in value, according to the Customs of Kunming, the starting point of the railway in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Agricultural products, including fruits, imported from ASEAN countries via the railway from January to October, rose by 27 percent year on year, while exports of high-tech products, especially new energy vehicles, saw a year-on-year surge of 285 percent, data showed.

The railway has transported nearly 16 million tonnes of cargo since its operation on Dec 3, 2021, totaling nearly 70 billion yuan (about 9.85 billion U.S. dollars). It has significantly promoted reciprocal and coordinated development of the regional supply and industrial chains.