Unicore Logistics Sole Co Ltd - Vientiane, Laos

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Interview with

Mr. Zhongqing Chen
General Manager

First of all Chen, when did you establish your company? Can you tell our readers about the history and also tell us about when you arrived in Laos?

Hi Bo, thanks for giving us the chance to be interviewed by PCW. First of all, we established our company in March 2020. I arrived in Laos in June 2015. At the time, I was employed by the EU Trading company, and I was sent to Laos to supervise a copper smelting project in Laos. In 2020, I established UNICORE LOGISTICS SOLE CO., LTD. We have been developing the business since. In 2023, we signed the sub-agent agreement with CMA CGM (Thailand) CO., LTD, and we are the first carrier sub-agent in Laos. Then, in July 2024, we opened our branch office in Thailand, UNICORE LOGISTICS(THAILAND) CO., LTD,

LAOS is a landlocked country but strategically located. Can you tell our readers about how to transport cargo into Laos? Which gateways are normally used? Can you get into Laos via Vietnam for example or which route for seafreight is generally utilized?

You are right that Lao is a landlocked country, but Lao has been trying to be a landlinked one since the Lao-China railway started operating. Here I list the main international borders of Laos:

Lao-China: Boten-Mohan border—it is for land and railway transport

Lao-Thailand: Huai Xay-Chiang Khong (friendship bridge), Vientiane-Nong Khai (friendship bridge), Paksan-Buengkan (ferry for oversize and overweight), Thakhek-Nakhon Phanom (friendship bridge), Savannakhet-Mukdahan (friendship bridge), Vangtao-Chongmek

Lao-Vietnam: Nam Phao-Cau Treo, Na Phao-Chalo, Dansavan-Lao Bao

Lao-Cambodia: Veun Kham – Stung Treng

You can see that there are many international borders in Laos, and it is at the heart of the Indochinese Peninsula. There are many routes to transport cargo to Laos. If by land, can transport via the above borders. If by ocean freight, we usually send cargo to the Laem Chabang port Thailand or the Haiphong port, Vietnam, then in-transit by trucks to Laos.

How about customs clearance in Laos? Does it take place at the border?

In terms of customs clearance, yes, it takes place at the border. You just submit all required data and other information to the customs system in order to pass. Cargo release is subject to a customs’ inspection.

In addition, the paper works like permission. Quotas are very important in Laos for customs clearance.

Are there any container depots in Laos, and is there generally two-way trade or is it mainly in-bound? I believe I heard that there are some VIP mining companies in the country.

There are no ocean container depots in Laos. Actually, we are working with CMA CGM to see if we can set one up in Lao in the future. But there are 6 railway container depots spread along the Lao-China railway.

And it is two-way trade as there are many tolling businesses in Laos. Yes there are 2-3 big scale mining companies in Laos to export minerals.

You represent CMA CGM. What can you tell our readers about it? What kind of routing and services do you have for customers using CMA CGM?

We contracted with CMA CGM(THAILAND) CO., LTD in July 2023, and as the sub-agent of CMA CGM in Laos, we provide services under door pick-up and door delivery services from/to Thailand. This means that CMA CGM can offer ocean freight and delivery service to customers directly to Laos, and we service as a trucking vendor for CMA CGM to handle in-transit customs clearance in Thailand and trucking between Thailand and Laos. And for export shipments from Laos, customers could book directly with UNICORE in Laos, and UNICORE could release the booking and issue the Bill of Lading directly to customers on behalf of CMA CGM. This is also the first company who can issue the Bill of Loading from Laos directly on behalf of the carrier.

How do you view the market at the moment and looking into 2025?

As you know, Laos is a small market, but we still have a chance to develop business. During the past 9 months of 2024, we have been facing sharp fluctuations in ocean freight, but the volumes are still at a stable level. I believe that in the next 3-4 months, volumes will increase. As we approach both the New Year and Chinese New Year, customers will push cargo import/export to prepare for production for next year.

Laos was the host country for the recent ASEAN summit in July. Lots of business delegations from all over the world followed the summit in Laos to investigate the market. At the same time, Lao officials are introducing more favorable policies to attract foreign investment, and we expect to have a flourishing business year in 2025.