China CNR Corporation, a leading provider of locomotives, said Monday it has signed an agreement to sell 20 railway ammonia tank cars and another 20 liquified gas tank cars to Atir Rail of France.

The deal will mark the first time that Chinese-made trains are to be exported to Europe, said a statement on the CNR's website.

The statement did not reveal the value of the agreement or the delivery time.

The statement said the deal was significant for CNR and China's transport equipment manufacturing industry for overseas expansion.

In competing with global giants in the railway equipment manufacturing industry, CNR can also accelerate its R&D input and further improve its corporate management, the statement said.

CNR has proved quite successful in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Belarus, and Hong Kong, the statement said.