At 2 a.m. on November 28, a dedicated international freight train departed from the Hai’an Railway Logistics Base in Hai’an Commercial and Logistics Park, carrying 70 standard containers—35 wagons—of photovoltaic (PV) glass panels bound for Vientiane South Station in Laos. Following the opening of the Nantong–Luang Prabang route in 2023, this new service marks another major milestone in developing the southern logistics corridor, extending full cross-border rail connectivity from Nantong to the hub area of Vientiane.

All PV glass panels on board were produced by manufacturers in Hai’an and nearby areas, with a total cargo value of RMB 3.701 million. The shipment will exit China via the Mohan Port in Yunnan Province and travel directly along the China–Laos Railway to Vientiane South. The full journey is expected to take about seven days—nearly half the time required for traditional sea transport—providing enterprises with a faster, more predictable, and more cost-effective logistics alternative. According to Qian Guanghong, General Manager of Nantong International Freight Train Co., Ltd., rail transport offers stable timetables and minimal transit-time fluctuations compared with sea freight. It also avoids risks such as maritime storms and port congestion, significantly reducing logistics costs and cargo-damage risks. Freight costs are roughly 30% of those for air transport, offering great value for cost efficiency.

The launch of the “Hai’an–Vientiane South” service further broadens the overland export channel for PV products from the Nantong region. It will help local enterprises use the Vientiane metropolitan area as a gateway to the clean-energy markets across the Indo-China Peninsula and inject fresh momentum into economic and trade cooperation between the Yangtze River Delta and Southeast Asian countries. Nantong International Freight Train Company plans to optimize route planning, increase train frequency in line with enterprise needs, and expand shipments to include new energy equipment, machinery, and other product categories—supporting local manufacturers in reaching wider global markets.