Largest market shown
Not reported
$1.1B of latest reported imports and $1.4B of calculated three-year opportunity.
Importer opportunity guide
Laos import opportunities
where to source next
Explore Laos's import market by product, supplier concentration, demand growth, and sourcing gaps. Use reported market size and calculated indicators to decide where deeper supplier research may be useful.
Latest imports$9.6B2024 reported value
Import CAGR+13.6%Three-year reported change
GDP$16.5BLatest reported value
GDP per capita$2.1KLatest reported value
Trade openness94.9%Reported share of GDP
Laos import opportunities
What makes this an attractive import market?
Compare market size and growth with supplier concentration. A large market may still need product, quality, tariff, logistics, and buyer validation.
Current import base
$9.6B in imports
Laos recorded $9.6B in imports in 2024, with a three-year change of +13.6%.
How to use the guide
Compare demand with supply
Start with the highest-value products, then review supplier concentration and market conditions before choosing a sourcing route.
Import market overview
Find products where demand and sourcing options meet
This page separates reported import observations from calculated indicators so market size is not mistaken for a guaranteed sourcing opportunity.
Laos imports products from suppliers across major trade regions. The current profile reports $9.6B of imports in 2024, while the opportunity view highlights product and supplier combinations where market demand and supply context may justify further research.
Use the opportunity table to compare product market size, demand growth, supplier counts, concentration, and projected imports. High concentration can indicate reliance on a small supplier base; it can also reflect specialized products that require careful validation.
Top import opportunities
Products and supplier context to review
The top 50 screened products are ranked by calculated three-year opportunity. Reported market values and calculated indicators are labeled separately.
| Rank | Product | Market size | Demand growth | Suppliers | Concentration | Top supplier | Projected imports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HS 271019Product description unavailable | $1.1BLatest imports | +12.5% | 29 | 8170 | THADeclining | $1.6B |
| 2 | HS 271012Product description unavailable | $273.7MLatest imports | +12.1% | 8 | 8603 | THADeclining | $385.0M |
| 3 | HS 170199Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter | $215.3MLatest imports | +14.6% | 9 | 9946 | THADeclining | $324.0M |
| 4 | HS 710812Metals: gold, non-monetary, unwrought (but not powder) | $173.5MLatest imports | +18.7% | 2 | 9812 | THADeclining | $289.9M |
| 5 | HS 220299Non-alcoholic beverages: other than non-alcoholic beer, n.e.c. in item no. 2202.10, not including fruit, nut or vegetable juices of heading no. 2009 | $168.8MLatest imports | +17.9% | 12 | 9493 | THADeclining | $276.4M |
| 6 | HS 271600Electrical energy | $135.7MLatest imports | +22.3% | 4 | 8347 | THAGrowing | $248.5M |
| 7 | HS 440122Wood: in chips or particles, non-coniferous | $88.0MLatest imports | +59.9% | 11 | 8486 | THAAccelerating | $171.9M |
| 8 | HS 848620Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of semiconductor devices or of electronic integrated circuits | $75.1MLatest imports | +37.0% | 4 | 9946 | CHNDeclining | $146.7M |
| 9 | HS 381800Chemical elements: doped for use in electronics, in the form of discs, wafers or similar forms: chemical compounds doped for use in electronics | $71.1MLatest imports | +40.4% | 5 | 9435 | CHNAccelerating | $138.8M |
| 10 | HS 870380Vehicles: with only electric motor for propulsion | $65.7MLatest imports | +32.8% | 12 | 8381 | CHNDeclining | $128.3M |
| 11 | HS 010290Bovine animals: live, other than pure-bred breeding animals | $56.5MLatest imports | +25.4% | 2 | 10000 | THADeclining | $110.3M |
| 12 | HS 230990Dog or cat food: (not put up for retail sale), used in animal feeding | $107.4MLatest imports | +14.5% | 24 | 4626 | THADeclining | $161.1M |
| 13 | HS 842952Mechanical shovels, excavators and shovel loaders: with a 360 degree revolving super structure | $122.0MLatest imports | +13.2% | 8 | 3416 | CHNDeclining | $177.1M |
| 14 | HS 870410Vehicles: dumpers, designed for off-highway use, for transport of goods | $76.7MLatest imports | +14.9% | 8 | 5730 | CHNStable | $116.5M |
| 15 | HS 190230Food preparations: pasta (excluding stuffed), cooked or otherwise prepared | $50.5MLatest imports | +25.8% | 11 | 6915 | THADeclining | $98.6M |
| 16 | HS 870423Vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), for transport of goods, (of a g.v.w. exceeding 20 tonnes), nes in item no 8704.1 | $51.6MLatest imports | +18.9% | 5 | 8709 | CHNDeclining | $86.7M |
| 17 | HS 870421Vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), for transport of goods, (of a gvw not exceeding 5 tonnes), n.e.c. in item no 8704.1 | $116.3MLatest imports | +7.8% | 10 | 4223 | THAGrowing | $145.7M |
| 18 | HS 470710Paper or paperboard: waste and scrap, of unbleached kraft paper or paperboard or of corrugated paper or paperboard | $73.6MLatest imports | +44.1% | 63 | 3262 | USADeclining | $143.8M |
| 19 | HS 310221Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, ammonium sulphate | $41.4MLatest imports | +34.3% | 3 | 8200 | CHNStable | $80.9M |
| 20 | HS 847150Digital processing units: other than those of subheadings 8471.41 or 8471.49, whether or not containing in the same housing one or two of the following types of unit: storage units, input units or output units | $44.4MLatest imports | +25.8% | 24 | 6950 | CHNDeclining | $86.8M |
| 21 | HS 850300Electric motors and generators: parts suitable for use solely or principally with the machines of heading no. 8501 or 8502 | $37.7MLatest imports | +23.5% | 21 | 9723 | CHNDeclining | $71.2M |
| 22 | HS 721049Iron or non-alloy steel: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, (not corrugated), plated or coated with zinc (not electrolytically) | $53.2MLatest imports | +12.4% | 3 | 8076 | CHNSlowing | $75.6M |
| 23 | HS 220820Spirits obtained by distilling grape wine or grape marc | $42.0MLatest imports | +16.4% | 11 | 9712 | CHNDeclining | $66.2M |
| 24 | HS 320730Lustres: liquid lustres and similar preparations | $42.8MLatest imports | +33.9% | 5 | 6244 | TWNAccelerating | $83.6M |
| 25 | HS 870333Vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), cylinder capacity exceeding 2500cc | $80.6MLatest imports | +15.8% | 11 | 4730 | THASlowing | $125.0M |
| 26 | HS 848640Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture or repair of masks and reticles, assembling semiconductor devices or electronic integrated circuits, or for lifting, handling, loading or unloading items of heading 8486 | $31.1MLatest imports | +32.9% | 4 | 9886 | CHNStable | $60.8M |
| 27 | HS 850231Electric generating sets: wind-powered, (excluding those with spark-ignition or compression-ignition internal combustion piston engines) | $30.9MLatest imports | +38.8% | 2 | 9967 | CHNGrowing | $60.3M |
| 28 | HS 381220Plasticisers, compound: for rubber or plastics | $38.4MLatest imports | +26.6% | 16 | 6689 | CHNGrowing | $75.0M |
| 29 | HS 870120Tractors: road, for semi-trailers | $39.2MLatest imports | +16.4% | 11 | 8449 | CHNAccelerating | $61.9M |
| 30 | HS 340220Washing and cleaning preparations: surface-active, whether or not containing soap (excluding those of heading no. 3401), put up for retail sale | $34.7MLatest imports | +14.9% | 12 | 9352 | THADeclining | $52.6M |
| 31 | HS 330499Cosmetic and toilet preparations: n.e.c. in heading no. 3304, for the care of the skin (excluding medicaments, including sunscreen or sun tan preparations) | $33.7MLatest imports | +19.8% | 23 | 7299 | THADeclining | $58.0M |
| 32 | HS 210690Food preparations: n.e.s. in item no. 2106.10 | $46.3MLatest imports | +10.6% | 32 | 6001 | THADeclining | $62.6M |
| 33 | HS 292242Amino-acids, other than those containing more than one kind of oxygen function, and their esters: glutamic acid and its esters: salts thereof | $38.5MLatest imports | +7.0% | 7 | 9858 | THADeclining | $47.2M |
| 34 | HS 841510Air conditioning machines: comprising a motor-driven fan and elements for changing the temperature and humidity, window or wall types, self-contained or split-system | $37.6MLatest imports | +15.1% | 8 | 6908 | CHNDeclining | $57.4M |
| 35 | HS 851712Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks | $73.8MLatest imports | +13.7% | 17 | 3554 | CHNDeclining | $108.6M |
| 36 | HS 961900Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material | $29.6MLatest imports | +16.3% | 7 | 9313 | THADeclining | $46.5M |
| 37 | HS 870332Vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), cylinder capacity exceeding 1500cc but not exceeding 2500cc | $33.6MLatest imports | +16.0% | 7 | 7221 | THASlowing | $52.4M |
| 38 | HS 840820Engines: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engines (diesel or semi-diesel engines), of a kind used for the propulsion of vehicles of chapter 87 | $29.1MLatest imports | +16.9% | 16 | 8437 | CHNSlowing | $46.5M |
| 39 | HS 854442Insulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, fitted with connectors | $29.6MLatest imports | +24.0% | 30 | 6103 | THASlowing | $56.5M |
| 40 | HS 854231Electronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits | $27.3MLatest imports | +15.7% | 15 | 9892 | THADeclining | $42.3M |
| 41 | HS 721420Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, containing indentations, ribs, grooves or other deformations produced during the rolling process or twisted after rolling | $50.6MLatest imports | +10.2% | 6 | 5045 | THADeclining | $67.7M |
| 42 | HS 854140Electrical apparatus: photosensitive, including photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled in modules or made up into panels, light emitting diodes | $29.8MLatest imports | +18.7% | 14 | 6982 | CHNDeclining | $49.8M |
| 43 | HS 730661Iron or steel (excluding cast iron): tubes, pipes and hollow profiles (not seamless), welded, of square or rectangular cross-section, n.e.c. in chapter 73 | $38.1MLatest imports | +31.3% | 4 | 4610 | CHNDeclining | $74.5M |
| 44 | HS 730590Iron or steel: tubes and pipes, n.e.s. in heading no. 7305, external diameter exceeds 406.4mm | $28.8MLatest imports | +12.3% | 3 | 9732 | CHNDeclining | $40.8M |
| 45 | HS 392690Plastics: other articles n.e.s. in chapter 39 | $37.2MLatest imports | +13.5% | 34 | 5559 | THADeclining | $54.4M |
| 46 | HS 110814Starch: manioc (cassava) | $20.1MLatest imports | +45.3% | 2 | 10000 | THASlowing | $39.2M |
| 47 | HS 730890Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof, n.e.s. in heading no. 7308 | $40.0MLatest imports | +11.1% | 18 | 5485 | CHNDeclining | $54.8M |
| 48 | HS 870110Tractors: pedestrian controlled | $30.5MLatest imports | +10.4% | 9 | 9021 | THAGrowing | $41.1M |
| 49 | HS 840890Engines: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engines (diesel or semi-diesel engines), of a kind used for other than marine propulsion or the vehicles of chapter 87 | $36.8MLatest imports | +12.1% | 13 | 6216 | THADeclining | $51.8M |
| 50 | HS 854449Insulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 80 volts, not fitted with connectors | $38.1MLatest imports | +13.5% | 20 | 5257 | CHNDeclining | $55.8M |
Showing the five highest-ranked products on mobile. View the complete import opportunity data.
Product sectors
Which sectors carry the most demand?
HS2 sectors group the screened products into broader families for an easier first comparison.
| Sector | Products | Market size | Opportunity | Average growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS2 sector 00HS2 00 | 2 | $1.4B | $1.8B | +12.3% |
| VehiclesHS2 87 | 8 | $494.2M | $562.5M | +16.6% |
| MachineryHS2 84 | 7 | $376.2M | $496.0M | +21.9% |
| Electrical equipmentHS2 85 | 7 | $267.3M | $340.3M | +21.1% |
| BeveragesHS2 22 | 2 | $210.8M | $334.5M | +17.1% |
| Sugars and sugar confectioneryHS2 17 | 1 | $215.3M | $323.2M | +14.6% |
| Precious stones and metalsHS2 71 | 1 | $173.5M | $287.1M | +18.7% |
| Mineral fuelsHS2 27 | 1 | $135.7M | $216.8M | +22.3% |
| Chemical productsHS2 38 | 2 | $109.5M | $191.7M | +33.5% |
| Wood articlesHS2 44 | 1 | $88.0M | $155.8M | +59.9% |
| Articles of iron or steelHS2 73 | 3 | $107.0M | $119.6M | +18.2% |
| Live animalsHS2 01 | 1 | $56.5M | $110.3M | +25.4% |
Supply gaps
Where supplier concentration deserves attention
The concentration index helps identify products where reported imports rely more heavily on a smaller supplier base. It is a screening signal, not a recommendation by itself.
| Product | Market size | Suppliers | Concentration | Top supplier | Share gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS 010290Bovine animals: live, other than pure-bred breeding animals | $56.5M | 2 | 10000 | THA | 100.0% |
| HS 110814Starch: manioc (cassava) | $20.1M | 2 | 10000 | THA | 100.0% |
| HS 850231Electric generating sets: wind-powered, (excluding those with spark-ignition or compression-ignition internal combustion piston engines) | $30.9M | 2 | 9967 | CHN | 99.7% |
| HS 170199Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter | $215.3M | 9 | 9946 | THA | 99.7% |
| HS 848620Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of semiconductor devices or of electronic integrated circuits | $75.1M | 4 | 9946 | CHN | 99.7% |
| HS 854231Electronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits | $27.3M | 15 | 9892 | THA | 99.5% |
| HS 848640Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture or repair of masks and reticles, assembling semiconductor devices or electronic integrated circuits, or for lifting, handling, loading or unloading items of heading 8486 | $31.1M | 4 | 9886 | CHN | 99.4% |
| HS 292242Amino-acids, other than those containing more than one kind of oxygen function, and their esters: glutamic acid and its esters: salts thereof | $38.5M | 7 | 9858 | THA | 99.3% |
Supplier landscape
Which supplier markets appear most often?
These supplier names come from the leading peer signal in the screened opportunity rows and should be validated at product level.
THA
Thailand
25 screened products
$4.0BCalculated opportunity across these rowsCHN
China
23 screened products
$1.6BCalculated opportunity across these rowsUSA
USA, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands
1 screened products
$78.7MCalculated opportunity across these rowsTWN
Taiwan
1 screened products
$63.5MCalculated opportunity across these rowsFrequently asked questions
Using the Laos import opportunity index
Definitions and practical guidance for interpreting market size, growth, suppliers, and concentration.
What are the import opportunities?
They are product and supplier combinations in Laos's screened import market with substantial reported demand and calculated opportunity indicators. They are research priorities, not guaranteed savings or supply contracts.
What does supplier concentration mean?
The concentration index indicates how much reported imports rely on a smaller supplier base. A high value can suggest supply dependence, but it can also reflect specialized products or limited reporting.
How should sourcing teams use this page?
Start with products that fit your specification and volume needs, then validate suppliers, tariffs, standards, logistics, pricing, and continuity for Laos.
Data source
OECD trade statistics with CEPII context
OECD (2025), Balanced international merchandise trade statistics (BIMTS) - HS2017-6D, OECD Data Explorer (accessed on 2026-08-30). OECD BIMTS is the primary trade series for this view. Supporting bilateral trade context uses CEPII BACI bilateral trade flows (202601) under Etalab 2.0 Open Licence. Yugalinks presents derived views of reported observations and calculated indicators. Data terms: OECD Terms & Conditions.