Trade partner
U.S. Imports
$85.4M
August 2026
U.S. Exports
$2.6M
August 2026
Trade deficit
$82.8M
August 2026 · U.S. imports more than it exports
In August 2026 the United States imported $85.4M from Laos and exported $2.6M to it, across 217 imported product categories.
Over the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $725.7M from Laos and exported $22.5M to it. In August 2026, the U.S. ran a monthly goods trade deficit of $82.8M with Laos, importing 32.3× as much as it exported. Compared with August 2025, U.S. goods imports from Laos in August 2026 (preliminary) were 50% lower. U.S. goods imports from Laos of $85.4M in August 2026 ran 86% above the year-to-date monthly average of $45.9M.
Laos is a landlocked Southeast Asian country with an economy centered on hydropower, mining, timber, and agricultural exports such as coffee and rubber. As an ASEAN member and LDC, Laos benefits from AFTA preferences and LDC-specific market access in various developed country markets. Trade professionals should account for Laos's transit trade dependencies on Thailand and Vietnam and its developing customs infrastructure.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
Laos's main exports include electricity (hydropower), minerals such as copper and gold, timber and wood products, coffee, rubber, and garments, with China and Thailand as the dominant trading partners.
Laos relies on road and rail transit through Thailand and Vietnam for seaborne trade, which adds complexity and cost; the Laos-China Railway has improved northern connectivity, but logistics infrastructure remains a key consideration for trade planning.
Yes, as a Least Developed Country, Laos qualifies for duty-free, quota-free access under schemes such as the EU's EBA, as well as LDC preferences offered by Japan, Australia, Canada, and other developed markets.
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Annual data from BEA | 2025
Services Exports
$36.0M
Services Imports
$95.0M
The top U.S. imports from Laos are Doped Chemical Elements & Compounds for Electronics…, Spectacle Lenses of Materials Other Than Glass (Unmounted) and Natural Barium Sulfate (Barytes), by value in the latest month.
| Rank | Product | Import value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $44.9M | |
| 2 | $10.1M | |
| 3 | $6.5M | |
| 4 | $3.7M | |
| 5 | $3.6M | |
| 6 | $1.5M | |
| 7 | $1.3M | |
| 8 | $1.1M | |
| 9 | $1.1M | |
| 10 | $983K |
| Rank | Product | Export value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $817K | |
| 2 | Civilian Aircraft, Engines, Equipment, and PartsChapter 88 · Aircraft, Spacecraft & Parts | $775K |
| 3 |
| $443K |
| 4 | $89K |
| 5 | $66K |
| 6 | $62K |
| 7 | $59K |
| 8 | Low-Value Export Shipments & Canadian Estimated Late ReceiptsChapter 98 · Special Classification Provisions | $53K |
| 9 | $35K |
| 10 | $28K |