Countries

Laos: trade by HS code

  • US$11bnExports 2024
  • US$9bnImports 2024
  • 1,620HS6 · Exports

In 2024, exports from Laos came to US$11bn and imports to US$9bn.

Its main exports were electricity (2716.00), potassium chloride (potash) (3104.20) and unwrought gold (non-monetary) (7108.12).

Its largest customer was China and its largest supplier Thailand.

In the 12 months to August 2026, the UK imported goods worth £36.1m from Laos (+3% on the year before), above all network switching and routing equipment, leather shoes (not ankle-covering) and leather boots and ankle shoes, and exported £2.8m to it.

Under DCTS Comprehensive, 98% of the UK tariff lines are duty-free for goods from Laos that meet the rules of origin.

Laos and the UK

UK imports£36.1m+3% · last 12 months
UK exports£2.8m-26% · last 12 months
Duty-free access to the UK98%share of tariff lines at 0% under a preference

Agreement or scheme: DCTS Comprehensive

What the UK imports from Laos

  1. 8517.62Network switching and routing equipment£6.8m
  2. 6403.99Leather shoes (not ankle-covering)£6m
  3. 6403.91Leather boots and ankle shoes£5.5m
  4. 6203.43Men's synthetic trousers and shorts, woven£3.7m
  5. 8525.89Other cameras (TV, digital, camcorders)£2.1m
  6. 6402.99Rubber and plastic shoes (not ankle-covering)£1.7m
  7. 9503.00Toys, dolls, scale models and puzzles£1.4m
  8. 6201.40Men's synthetic coats and jackets, woven£1.2m
  9. 6404.19Textile-upper shoes, rubber/plastic sole£1.1m
  10. 6205.20Men's cotton shirts, woven£538.3k

Data up to August 2026 (provisional) · HMRC

Laos and the EU

EU imports€437m-6% · last 12 months
EU exports€114.3m+10% · last 12 months
Duty-free access to the EU97%share of tariff lines at 0% under a preference

Agreement or scheme: GSP-EBA (Special arrangement for the least-developed countries - Everything But Arms)

What the EU imports from Laos

  1. 6203.43Men's synthetic trousers and shorts, woven€74.5m
  2. 8517.62Network switching and routing equipment€33.5m
  3. 0901.11Green coffee (not decaffeinated)€27.9m
  4. 6110.30Synthetic sweaters and cardigans, knitted€20m
  5. 6201.40Men's synthetic coats and jackets, woven€19.2m
  6. 6403.91Leather boots and ankle shoes€19m
  7. 6109.90T-shirts and vests of other fibres, knitted€15.9m
  8. 6403.99Leather shoes (not ankle-covering)€14.8m
  9. 7102.39Worked diamonds (non-industrial)€14.5m
  10. 6404.19Textile-upper shoes, rubber/plastic sole€13.4m

Data up to August 2026 (provisional) · Eurostat Comext

Top exports

  1. 2716.00ElectricityUS$2bn
  2. 3104.20Potassium chloride (potash)US$822m
  3. 7108.12Unwrought gold (non-monetary)US$725m
  4. 2601.11Iron ore, non-agglomeratedUS$480m
  5. 2603.00Copper ores and concentratesUS$476m
  6. 0714.10Cassava (manioc)US$399m
  7. 4001.29Other natural rubber formsUS$396m
  8. 4805.25Testliner over 150 g/m²US$314m
  9. 4702.00Dissolving wood pulpUS$289m
  10. 8541.43Solar panels (PV modules)US$277m
  11. 2846.90Other rare-earth compoundsUS$260m
  12. 8517.62Network switching and routing equipmentUS$207m
  13. 1108.14Cassava (tapioca) starchUS$198m
  14. 9001.50Spectacle lenses (non-glass)US$190m
  15. 4002.80Natural and synthetic rubber mixturesUS$174m
  16. 8541.42Solar cells (not in modules)US$133m
  17. 6203.43Men's synthetic trousers and shorts, wovenUS$122m
  18. 4805.24Testliner, 150 g/m² or lessUS$120m
  19. 7403.11Refined copper cathodesUS$108m
  20. 2606.00Aluminium ores (bauxite)US$107m

Top imports

  1. 1701.99Refined sugar (other)US$206m
  2. 7108.12Unwrought gold (non-monetary)US$173m
  3. 8429.52Excavators (360° revolving)US$166m
  4. 2716.00ElectricityUS$161m
  5. 2202.99Other non-alcoholic beveragesUS$99m
  6. 8704.10Off-highway dump trucksUS$88m
  7. 8703.80Electric cars (battery only)US$88m
  8. 8704.21Diesel trucks, GVW up to 5 tUS$87m
  9. 4401.22Hardwood wood chipsUS$80m
  10. 8517.13SmartphonesUS$79m
  11. 8486.20Machines for making semiconductor devices/ICsUS$76m
  12. 3818.00Doped chemical elements for electronics (wafers)US$71m
  13. 7214.20Steel rebar (deformed bars)US$67m
  14. 7210.49Galvanised steel sheet and coilUS$66m
  15. 8704.23Diesel trucks, GVW over 20 tUS$66m
  16. 8703.33Diesel cars over 2500 ccUS$64m
  17. 2106.90Other food preparationsUS$57m
  18. 1902.30Other pasta (cooked, instant noodles)US$57m
  19. 3102.21Ammonium sulphateUS$55m
  20. 8711.20Motorcycles 50-250 ccUS$53m

Main buyers from Laos

  1. China US$4bn
  2. Thailand US$3bn
  3. United States US$832m
  4. Australia US$426m
  5. Germany US$269m
  6. Cambodia US$234m
  7. Switzerland US$187m
  8. Japan US$141m
  9. South Korea US$88m
  10. Mexico US$82m

Main suppliers of Laos

  1. Thailand US$3bn
  2. China US$3bn
  3. South Korea US$80m
  4. Japan US$57m
  5. Singapore US$48m
  6. Taiwan US$35m
  7. Belgium US$23m
  8. Brazil US$22m
  9. Germany US$17m
  10. Hungary US$17m

Questions and answers

What does Laos export most?

In 2024, its largest export at the six-digit level was electricity (HS 2716.00), worth US$2bn.

Does the UK have a trade agreement with Laos?

Yes: goods from Laos can enter at preferential rates under DCTS Comprehensive, duty-free on 98% of tariff lines, provided they meet the rules of origin and come with proof of origin.