Guangzhou’s first -China-Laos-Thailand- international railway freight train departs

On October 14th, with the sound of a whistle, the 80014th freight train departed from Guangzhou International Port, carrying automotive parts, clothing, shoes, and other export goods. This marked the inaugural “China-Laos-Thailand” railway freight service from Guangzhou, adding a new route to the city’s international freight transport offerings.

According to officials, this train will travel from Guangzhou International Port through the Mohan port in Yunnan and head south along the China-Laos Railway, reaching Vientiane in Laos before continuing to Bangkok, Thailand. The entire journey is expected to take just four days. Thanks to the advantages of the China-Europe (Central Asia) railway service—operating around the clock with stable and efficient operations—this new route promises to enhance trade logistics between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area and ASEAN countries.

“Previously, exporting goods to Thailand either required sea transport, which took 6 to 8 days, or a rail-to-road transfer through Laos, which was costly. Now, the direct railway service takes only four days, offering a guaranteed stable route. Furthermore, it can be extended to Malaysia, providing an attractive international logistics channel for export companies that focus on ASEAN markets,” said Huang Zhisheng, manager at Guangzhou Quansutong Customs Brokerage Co., responsible for customs clearance for the “China-Laos-Thailand” train.

Xie Wanlin, head of the customs supervision section at Guangzhou Station Customs, shared that, “The customs authority has been actively promoting convenient measures such as 24-hour appointment clearance, multi-modal transport transitions, and ‘rapid railway clearance.’ We have simplified declaration procedures by merging manifests and implemented a model where shippers do not need to be present for inspections, significantly improving clearance efficiency. Additionally, we have established a dedicated service window for the China-Europe trains, helping businesses better understand the new transport processes and regulatory policies, enabling them to fully benefit from policy incentives.”

It is noteworthy that leveraging the strong manufacturing cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou’s China-Europe (Central Asia) freight service has seen a continuous increase in shipments in recent years, reflecting rapid growth. Currently, Guangzhou Customs monitors the China-Europe freight trains, which include 23 routes—16 outgoing and 7 incoming—connecting to over 20 countries and 40 cities across Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Western Asia, and Central Asia. The exported products cover various categories, including automobiles, home appliances, clothing, and daily necessities.