The Laos–China Railway (LCR) carried 4.506 million tons of cargo between January and October 2025, recording a 12.8 percent year-on-year increase. Cargo value rose to CNY22.07 billion (USD3.10 billion). The freight mix expanded to more than 3,300 categories, supported by services including the Lancang–Mekong Express. High-tech trade between China and ASEAN also grew sharply, with exports of new-energy vehicles increasing by over 285 percent and imports of ASEAN fruits and agricultural goods rising by more than 27 percent.
The railway carried 15.48 million passengers during the same period, including nearly 200,000 cross-border travellers. Since opening in December 2021, the line has served almost 60 million passengers from 115 countries. Daily operations in Laos have expanded from four to 18 trains, and the Vientiane–Kunming service continues to support monthly ridership of more than 1.6 million passengers.
Total freight moved via the line reached 67.6 million tons as of September 2025, strengthening Laos’ trade links with 19 countries and regions. Major Lao exports include fruits, cassava, rubber, and minerals, while imports from China comprise electronics, vehicles, solar panels, and consumer goods. New corridors, such as the Laos–Malaysia route to Penang Port, launched in May 2025, are improving regional connectivity. The LCR, a flagship Belt and Road Initiative project, remains central to Laos’ strategy to transition from landlocked to land-linked status.