October 11, 2026

As of October 9, cumulative trade on the China-Laos Railway has passed 100 billion yuan (about $14.9 billion), with more than 20.77 million tons of import and export goods moved. In the first eight months of 2026, rail imports of Southeast Asian tropical fruits totaled 5.26 billion yuan, while exports of machinery and electrical products during the same period reached 7.42 billion yuan, up 58.4 percent year-on-year.

Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. With no coastline, all imports and exports must pass through neighboring ports and roads. That means higher freight costs, longer delays and more spoilage. 

The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) estimates that landlocked developing countries face trade costs roughly 50 percent higher than their coastal peers. Of the 32 landlocked developing countries worldwide, 17 are also classified as least developed.

Read more:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202610/1372031.shtml