The 1,035-kilometer China-Laos Railway, a landmark project of the Belt and Road Initiative and a flagship project for bilateral friendship, connects landlocked Laos with China's railway networks, greatly expanding Laos' access to global markets.

Many world-leading technological innovations with independent intellectual property rights have emerged from the railway.

Shanxi began to operate the China-Europe freight train service in 2017, with the first train to Europe departing from Zhongding on Feb 15 that year.

Freight volume has seen stable monthly growth, with October hitting a high of 1.35 million tons, it said. Trade along the railway covers countries such as Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore.

Coal made up the bulk of that cargo — about 1.1 billion tons — up 17 percent year-on-year.

In addition, more railway lines were opened and more investment was made in railway construction to help stabilize the economy.

An industry index shows the country's courier market bounced back from its previous lows to become brisk in September, a usually buoyant month.

Fastmarkets explores the logistical challenges facing South African ore exports, from the perspective of chrome and manganese markets.