# Laos Import Demand Profile: Data, Sectors & Suppliers | Yugalinks

> Published by **Yugalinks**, global trade intelligence for growing businesses.

Explore import demand for Laos with OECD trade data: sectors, suppliers, economy context, and trade history.

Canonical: https://www.yugalinks.com/trade/country-import/LAO

## Laos import demand overview

In 2024, Laos recorded $9.6B in reported imports. Mineral fuels was the largest displayed import sector by value.

## Country snapshot

| Measure | Value |
| --- | ---: |
| Latest imports | $9.6B |
| Import growth | +11.3% |
| Population | 7.8M |
| GDP per capita | $2.1K |
| Trade openness | 94.9% |

## Import sectors

| Rank | HS2 | Sector | Imports | Share | Import partners | Active HS6 |
| ---: | --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| 1 | 27 | Mineral fuels | $1.6B | 16.5% | 35 | 33 |
| 2 | 85 | Electrical machinery | $777.7M | 8.1% | 76 | 262 |
| 3 | 31 | Fertilisers | $182.1M | 1.9% | 13 | 24 |
| 4 | 26 | Ores, slag and ash | $7.9M | 0.1% | 24 | 22 |
| 5 | 71 | Precious stones and metals | $201.6M | 2.1% | 22 | 33 |
| 6 | 40 | Rubber | $132.2M | 1.4% | 48 | 74 |
| 7 | 28 | Inorganic chemicals | $134.7M | 1.4% | 37 | 135 |
| 8 | 44 | Wood and wood articles | $108.2M | 1.1% | 27 | 83 |
| 9 | 07 | Vegetables | $33.2M | 0.3% | 16 | 60 |
| 10 | 48 | Paper and paperboard | $115.0M | 1.2% | 42 | 100 |

## Import history

| Year | Imports | Exports | Balance |
| ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| 1995 | $594.4M | $282.1M | -$312.4M |
| 1996 | $594.4M | $321.3M | -$273.1M |
| 1997 | $582.1M | $285.1M | -$296.9M |
| 1998 | $535.8M | $220.6M | -$315.2M |
| 1999 | $600.2M | $263.8M | -$336.4M |
| 2000 | $599.3M | $341.8M | -$257.5M |
| 2001 | $647.6M | $313.5M | -$334.0M |
| 2002 | $638.1M | $318.4M | -$319.8M |
| 2003 | $718.6M | $346.8M | -$371.8M |
| 2004 | $955.1M | $395.6M | -$559.5M |
| 2005 | $1.1B | $651.3M | -$463.9M |
| 2006 | $1.5B | $1.2B | -$317.1M |
| 2007 | $1.9B | $1.2B | -$683.7M |
| 2008 | $2.5B | $1.5B | -$1.0B |
| 2009 | $2.1B | $1.6B | -$559.2M |
| 2010 | $3.0B | $2.5B | -$518.7M |
| 2011 | $3.9B | $3.1B | -$758.1M |
| 2012 | $4.9B | $3.2B | -$1.7B |
| 2013 | $6.2B | $4.6B | -$1.6B |
| 2014 | $6.6B | $4.5B | -$2.1B |
| 2015 | $5.9B | $4.2B | -$1.7B |
| 2016 | $5.6B | $3.9B | -$1.7B |
| 2017 | $6.4B | $5.0B | -$1.4B |
| 2018 | $6.9B | $5.8B | -$1.1B |
| 2019 | $6.7B | $6.0B | -$743.2M |
| 2020 | $5.8B | $5.9B | $52.0M |
| 2021 | $6.6B | $8.0B | $1.4B |
| 2022 | $8.3B | $9.9B | $1.6B |
| 2023 | $8.7B | $8.3B | -$341.5M |
| 2024 | $9.6B | $9.3B | -$355.5M |

## Data coverage

- Country: **Laos (LAO)**
- Coverage: **1995-2024**
- Publisher: [Yugalinks](https://www.yugalinks.com/)

## Data sources

- Primary trade series: OECD (2025), Balanced international merchandise trade statistics (BIMTS) - HS2017-6D, OECD Data Explorer (accessed on 2026-08-29). [OECD Data Explorer](https://data-explorer.oecd.org/) - [OECD Terms & Conditions](https://www.oecd.org/termsandconditions/)
- CEPII BACI bilateral trade flows (202601): [dataset page](https://www.cepii.fr/CEPII/en/bdd_modele/bdd_modele_item.asp?id=37) - [BACI documentation](https://www.cepii.fr/DATA_DOWNLOAD/baci/doc/baci_webpage.html) - [Etalab 2.0 Open Licence](https://www.etalab.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/open-licence.pdf)

This page presents derived Yugalinks views of reported observations and calculated indicators.

## Data sources

- Primary trade series: OECD (2025), Balanced international merchandise trade statistics (BIMTS) - HS2017-6D, OECD Data Explorer (accessed on 2026-08-29). [OECD Data Explorer](https://data-explorer.oecd.org/) - [OECD Terms & Conditions](https://www.oecd.org/termsandconditions/)
- CEPII BACI bilateral trade flows (202601): [dataset page](https://www.cepii.fr/CEPII/en/bdd_modele/bdd_modele_item.asp?id=37) - [BACI documentation](https://www.cepii.fr/DATA_DOWNLOAD/baci/doc/baci_webpage.html) - [Etalab 2.0 Open Licence](https://www.etalab.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/open-licence.pdf)

This page presents derived Yugalinks views of reported observations and calculated indicators.