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Laos
(information)
Population as of 2020: 7.2 million 102 of 193
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Region: Southeastern Asia
Nominal G.D.P. in 2024: $16.5 billion 138 of 193
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Top Exports
Total exports: **~$8.1 billion (2024)**
**Moderately concentrated:** energy + mining + agriculture dominate
| Rank | Export Category | Notes |
| ---- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1 | **Electricity (hydropower)** ⭐ | Largest export (~20%+); regional power sales |
| 2 | **Fertilizers (potassic)** | Major industrial export |
| 3 | **Gems & precious metals (gold)** | Key value export |
| 4 | **Electrical equipment & semiconductors** | Fast-growing sector |
| 5 | **Rubber & rubber products** | Major agricultural export |
| 6 | **Ores (iron, copper, others)** | Mining sector |
| 7 | **Paper & paperboard products** | Wood-processing industry |
| 8 | **Vegetables & roots (cassava, yams)** | Growing agro-export |
| 9 | **Wood pulp & forestry products** | Forestry-based exports |
| 10 | **Sugar & confectionery** | Agricultural export |
Key individual export products (by value)
| Rank | Product | Notes |
| ---- | --------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| 11 | **Electric power (hydropower exports)** | #1 export (~20%+) |
| 12 | **Potash fertilizers** | Major industrial export (~7%+) |
| 13 | **Unwrought gold** | High-value export (~5–6%) |
| 14 | **Solar diodes & semiconductors** | Electronics export (~5%) |
| 15 | **Natural rubber** | Key agricultural product (~5%) |
| 16 | **Iron ores & concentrates** | Mining export |
| 17 | **Copper ores & concentrates** | Important mineral export |
| 18 | **Cassava (roots & processed)** | Major agro-export |
| 19 | **Uncoated paper & pulp products** | Forestry industry |
| 20 | **Telephones & electronic devices** | Growing manufacturing export |
Key Takeaways
* ⚡ **Electricity is the #1 export**
* Laos is a major **hydropower exporter in Southeast Asia**
* ⛏️ **Mining is a core pillar**
* Gold, copper, iron, and potash are central to exports
* 🌱 **Agriculture remains important**
* Rubber, cassava, and sugar are key products
* 🌲 **Forestry-based exports matter**
* Paper, pulp, and wood products contribute significantly
* ⚡ **Emerging industrial exports**
* Electronics and semiconductors are rising sectors
* 🌏 **Regionally integrated economy**
* Most exports go to **China, Thailand, and Vietnam**
Top Importers of Laos’ Exports (2024)
| Rank | Country | Notes |
| ---- | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1 | **China** | Largest partner (~30–35%+); minerals, rubber, cassava. |
| 2 | **Thailand** | Major buyer of **electricity (hydropower)** and agricultural goods. |
| 3 | **Vietnam** | Regional trade; electricity, minerals, agriculture. |
| 4 | **Australia** | Gold and mining products. |
| 5 | **Japan** | Electronics and industrial inputs. |
| 6 | **South Korea** | Minerals and industrial materials. |
| 7 | **India** | Minerals and agricultural goods. |
| 8 | **United States** | Apparel and small manufactured goods. |
| 9 | **Germany** | Electronics and niche exports. |
| 10 | **Malaysia** | Rubber and palm-related trade links. |
Key Patterns
* 🌏 **Regional dominance (Southeast Asia + China)**
* **China, Thailand, and Vietnam** account for the majority of exports
* Reflects Laos’ **landlocked, regionally integrated economy**
* ⚡ **Electricity shapes trade with neighbors**
* **Thailand and Vietnam** import large amounts of **hydropower**
* ⛏️ **Mining links to global markets**
* **China, Australia, Japan, Korea** import:
* gold
* copper
* minerals
* 🌱 **Agriculture flows to Asia**
* Rubber, cassava, and crops go mainly to **China and regional partners**
