Countries

Lesotho: trade by HS code

  • US$1.1bnExports 2024
  • US$1.9bnImports 2024
  • 1,727HS6 · Exports

In 2024, exports from Lesotho came to US$1.1bn and imports to US$1.9bn.

Its main exports were rough diamonds (non-industrial) (7102.31), mineral and sparkling waters (unsweetened) (2201.10) and men's cotton trousers and shorts (6203.42).

Its largest customer was South Africa and its largest supplier South Africa.

In the 12 months to August 2026, the UK imported goods worth £878.4k from Lesotho (-65% on the year before), above all women's or girls' suits, ensembles…, women's synthetic trousers and shorts… and unequipped boards and cabinets for…, and exported £620.5k to it.

Under SADC EPA and the UK–Lesotho agreement, 98% of the UK tariff lines are duty-free for goods from Lesotho that meet the rules of origin.

Lesotho and the UK

UK imports£878.4k-65% · last 12 months
UK exports£620.5k+15% · last 12 months
Duty-free access to the UK98%share of tariff lines at 0% under a preference

Agreement or scheme: SADC EPA · UK–Lesotho agreement

What the UK imports from Lesotho

  1. 6104.23Women's or girls' suits, ensembles, jackets, blazers: ensembles, of synthetic fibres£198.1k
  2. 6104.63Women's synthetic trousers and shorts, knitted£171.2k
  3. 8538.10Unequipped boards and cabinets for control panels£168.5k
  4. 8536.20Automatic circuit breakers, up to 1000 V£149.4k
  5. 6105.20Men's man-made fibre shirts, knitted£58.5k
  6. 1212.99Other vegetable products of ch. 12 n.e.s.£43.2k
  7. 8538.90Other parts for switching and control apparatus£26.4k
  8. 1211.90Other medicinal and aromatic plants£24.3k
  9. 8504.90Transformer and converter parts£9.1k
  10. 1103.13Cereal groats, meal and pellets: groats and meal, of maize (corn)£7.9k

Data up to August 2026 (provisional) · HMRC

Lesotho and the EU

EU imports€151.5m-7% · last 12 months
EU exports€11.3m+20% · last 12 months
Duty-free access to the EU98%share of tariff lines at 0% under a preference

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

What the EU imports from Lesotho

  1. 7102.31Rough diamonds (non-industrial)€141.2m
  2. 7102.21Industrial diamonds, unworked€3m
  3. 1211.90Other medicinal and aromatic plants€2.6m
  4. 8536.20Automatic circuit breakers, up to 1000 V€1.5m
  5. 1106.30Of the products of Chapter 8€930.5k
  6. 0813.40Other dried fruit€686k
  7. 6104.63Women's synthetic trousers and shorts, knitted€525.1k
  8. 1212.99Other vegetable products of ch. 12 n.e.s.€441.5k
  9. 7102.39Worked diamonds (non-industrial)€351.2k
  10. 6105.20Men's man-made fibre shirts, knitted€54.9k

Data up to August 2026 (provisional) · Eurostat Comext

Top exports

  1. 7102.31Rough diamonds (non-industrial)US$325.3m
  2. 2201.10Mineral and sparkling waters (unsweetened)US$80.7m
  3. 6203.42Men's cotton trousers and shortsUS$53.4m
  4. 7102.39Worked diamonds (non-industrial)US$43.3m
  5. 8536.20Automatic circuit breakers, up to 1000 VUS$40.5m
  6. 5101.19Greasy, including fleece-washed wool: otherUS$37.5m
  7. 6104.63Women's synthetic trousers and shorts, knittedUS$35.6m
  8. 6105.20Men's man-made fibre shirts, knittedUS$32.5m
  9. 6304.93Not knitted or crocheted, of synthetic fibresUS$27.5m
  10. 6109.90T-shirts and vests of other fibres, knittedUS$26.3m
  11. 6204.62Women's cotton trousers and shortsUS$26.2m
  12. 5101.11Greasy shorn woolUS$23.6m
  13. 6109.10Cotton T-shirts and vests, knittedUS$15.9m
  14. 1101.00Wheat flourUS$15.5m
  15. 6110.30Synthetic sweaters and cardigans, knittedUS$13.4m
  16. 7102.21Industrial diamonds, unworkedUS$12.1m
  17. 5209.42Denim (heavy cotton)US$11.9m
  18. 5207.10Containing 85 % or more by weight of cottonUS$9.1m
  19. 6204.63Women's synthetic trousers and shorts, wovenUS$9m
  20. 6115.96Synthetic socks and hosieryUS$8.6m

Top imports

  1. 2716.00ElectricityUS$59.1m
  2. 6003.30Knitted or crocheted fabrics of a width not exceeding 30: of synthetic fibresUS$36.9m
  3. 1102.20Cereal flours other than of wheat or meslin: maize (corn) flourUS$31m
  4. 1005.90Maize (corn), not for sowingUS$29.5m
  5. 8430.31Self-propelled tunnelling and rock cuttersUS$27.7m
  6. 8538.90Other parts for switching and control apparatusUS$26.7m
  7. 5201.00Raw cotton (not carded or combed)US$25.6m
  8. 3004.90Other medicines, dosed or for retail saleUS$24.6m
  9. 1001.99Wheat and meslin (not seed, not durum)US$22m
  10. 8703.23Petrol cars, 1500-3000 ccUS$19.3m
  11. 1101.00Wheat flourUS$19.3m
  12. 6004.90Knitted or crocheted fabrics of a width exceeding 30: otherUS$17.8m
  13. 2523.29Portland cement (non-white)US$16.6m
  14. 0207.13Fresh chicken cuts and offalUS$16.5m
  15. 2202.10Sweetened or flavoured waters (soft drinks)US$15.9m
  16. 8704.21Diesel trucks, GVW up to 5 tUS$15.7m
  17. 0207.14Frozen chicken cuts and offalUS$14.7m
  18. 2206.00Cider, perry, mead and sakeUS$13.6m
  19. 8504.40Static converters (inverters, chargers)US$13.6m
  20. 6006.90Other knitted or crocheted fabrics: otherUS$13.4m

Main buyers from Lesotho

  1. South Africa US$414.4m
  2. United States US$247.4m
  3. Belgium US$240.3m
  4. India US$45.3m
  5. China US$29.2m
  6. France US$7.1m
  7. Germany US$6.4m
  8. Canada US$6.3m
  9. Eswatini US$5.3m
  10. Mexico US$4.8m

Main suppliers of Lesotho

  1. South Africa US$956.1m
  2. China US$141.2m
  3. Taiwan US$50.3m
  4. India US$23.5m
  5. Japan US$15.1m
  6. Zambia US$9.5m
  7. Mozambique US$9.1m
  8. Zimbabwe US$6.2m
  9. Germany US$4.5m
  10. Botswana US$4.3m

Questions and answers

What does Lesotho export most?

In 2024, its largest export at the six-digit level was rough diamonds (non-industrial) (HS 7102.31), worth US$325.3m.

Does the UK have a trade agreement with Lesotho?

Yes: goods from Lesotho can enter at preferential rates under SADC EPA and the UK–Lesotho agreement, duty-free on 98% of tariff lines, provided they meet the rules of origin and come with proof of origin.