Located in the heart of Southeast Asia on the Indochinese Peninsula, the Lao People's Democratic Republic—commonly known as Laos—exported goods valued at US$12.6 billion in 2024.

This amount represents a 105.5% increase compared to $6.1 billion in 2020, reflecting the rapid growth of Laos's exports in recent years.

Between 2023 and 2024, Laos's exports more than doubled, soaring by 108.6% from $6 billion to $12.6 billion.

According to the 2024 average exchange rate, the Lao kip depreciated by 58.1% against the US dollar compared with 2020 and by 13.9% from 2023 to 2024. This weaker currency made Laos's exports more competitive on the global market, as products priced in stronger US dollars became more affordable for foreign buyers.

The five leading export commodities from Laos were potassic fertilizers, unwrought gold, solar diodes and semiconductors, natural rubber, and iron ores and concentrates. Together, these accounted for approximately 43.5% of Laos's total export value in 2024.

Laos's Key Trading Partners

Based on 2023 data, 87.5% of Laos's exports were purchased by a few key countries: mainland China (38.2%), Vietnam (19.9%), Thailand (13.1%), and Australia (5.7%). Other important destinations included the United States (1.64%), Japan (1.62%), Germany (1.57%), Singapore (1.42%), India (1.37%), Hong Kong (1.2%), Switzerland (1%), and Denmark (0.6%).

From a continental viewpoint, Asia received 85% of Laos's exports, followed by Europe (6.7%) and Oceania (6.2%), mainly Australia. Smaller portions went to North America (2%), Africa (0.02%), and Latin America (0.01%).

With a population of 7.7 million, Laos's exports in 2024 equaled around $1,650 per person, up from $1,200 in 2023.

Top 10 Export Products of Laos

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Laos's exports during 2024, along with their percentage shares:

1.Mineral fuels (including oil): US$2.7 billion (21.6%)

2.Electrical machinery & equipment: $1.24 billion (9.9%)

3.Ores, slag & ash: $1.16 billion (9.2%)

4.Fertilizers: $930.6 million (7.4%)

5.Rubber & rubber goods: $833.3 million (6.6%)

6.Gems & precious metals: $746.8 million (5.9%)

7.Vegetables: $469.9 million (3.7%)

8.Paper & paper products: $441.5 million (3.5%)

9.Inorganic chemicals: $392.5 million (3.1%)

10.Milling products, malt & starches: $352 million (2.8%)

Together, these top 10 categories generated nearly 73.7% of Laos's exports in 2024.

The most dramatic rise among Laos's exports came from mineral fuels, up 2,363% from 2023 to 2024. Electrical machinery and equipment followed with a 502.4% increase, while inorganic chemicals surged 470.6%. The only declining category was paper and paper items, down 5.6% year over year.

At a more detailed four-digit HS code level, electrical energy was the most valuable item in Laos's exports, representing 20.4% of the total. It was followed by potassic fertilizers (7.2%), unwrought gold (5.7%), solar diodes & semiconductors (5.2%), natural rubber (5%), iron ores (4.1%), copper ores (3.7%), sweet potatoes and yams (3.7%), uncoated paper (3.5%), and phones including smartphones (2.8%).

Finding Suppliers and Expanding Laos's Export Opportunities

For companies aiming to explore Laos's exports and supplier networks, reliable data and market insights are crucial. Using Tendata's advanced platform, businesses can perform keyword or HS code searches to locate verified suppliers, analyze export volumes, and access contact information—saving valuable time and resources.

For instance, if you are analyzing cotton-related exports, Tendata can instantly identify the top 10 suppliers in Laos for 2024:

1.ALPILAO INTERNATIONAL SOLE CO LTD (31.91%)

2.CHIEM PATANA LAO CO LTD (27.27%)

3.TRIMAX CO LTD (12.41%)

4.ALPILAO INTERNATIONAL CO LTD (5.32%)

5.NEW ERA CAP CO INC (4.44%)

6.FASHION CITY LGS GMBH (3.3%)

7.FASHION CITY LGS GMBH ԳԵՐԱՄՆԻԱ VISTA BIALYSTOK POLSKA Ի ՄԻՋՈՑՈՎ ԼԵՀԱՍՏԱՆ (3.19%)

8.TEMPE S A (1.47%)

9.RYOHIN KEIKAKU CO LTD (0.88%)

10.SUNRISE AND CO PTE LTD (0.55%)

Whether you are a seasoned trader or new to international commerce, leveraging Laos's export data can uncover new market opportunities. For more details about Laos's exports or to access detailed analytics, contact Tendata for a free online demo today.