The Lao-China Railway has surpassed expectations, transporting a total of 26.8 million tons of cargo as of 3 October, and carrying more than 2,700 types of goods since it began operating in December 2021.
China Railway Kunming Group Co., Ltd. reported that the Lao-China Railway has been in operation for 22 months, becoming a vital artery for trade and economic development in the region and a major international railway connecting China, Laos, and neighboring countries.
Since the beginning of its operations, the railway has transported over 5.5 million tons of import and export goods, including agricultural products, minerals, and manufactured goods, playing a key role in trade and economic development.
In 2023 alone, the railway transported over 3 million tons of goods, with over 345,000 tons imported from China to Laos and over 2.7 million tons exported from Laos to China.
Laos’s top exports to China include fruits, cassava flour, barley, rubber, beer, iron ore, concentrated iron ore, and chemical fertilizers.
The Laos-China Railway recently announced that it has carried over 3.1 million passengers since it opened in late 2021 until September this year, with an average daily ridership of 4,889 passengers and a peak ridership of 10,197 passengers.
In 2023, the Laos-China Railway saw a surge in passenger traffic, with over 1.75 million passengers traveling on the railway from January to September, a 103.7 percent increase from the same period in 2022.
The Laos-China Railway Company also purchased a new electric multiple-unit (EMU) train to meet the growing demand from both domestic and international tourists, especially in preparation for Laos’ Chairmanship of ASEAN and Visit Laos Year 2024.
By Chono Lapuekou
Source: Laotian Times
October 22, 2023
