Kanbalu (also spelt Kantbalu) is a town in Shwebo District, Sagaing Division, in Myanmar. It is the administrative seat for Kanbalu Township. Kanbalu is on the main Burmese north-south railroad between Sagaing and Myitkyina.
Its railyards were bombed by the Allies during World War II.
The military-run Myanmar Economic Corporation operates two factories, manufacturing sugar and menthol, in Kantbalu. The sugar factory is a joint venture with Thai-owned Sutech Engineering. Kanbalu is also home to the 30 megawatts (40,000 hp) Thaphanseik hydropower plant on the Mu River, a $20-million project financed by the China Import and Export Bank.
Coordinates: 23°12′14″N 95°30′55″E / 23.20389°N 95.51528°E