Largest market shown
Not reported
$198.1M of latest reported imports and $261.2M of calculated three-year opportunity.
Importer opportunity guide
Lesotho import opportunities
where to source next
Explore Lesotho'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$1.7B2024 reported value
Import CAGR+3.1%Three-year reported change
GDP$2.3BLatest reported value
GDP per capita$971.9Latest reported value
Trade openness0.0%Reported share of GDP
Lesotho 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
$1.7B in imports
Lesotho recorded $1.7B in imports in 2024, with a three-year change of +3.1%.
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.
Lesotho imports products from suppliers across major trade regions. The current profile reports $1.7B 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 271012Product description unavailable | $198.1MLatest imports | +10.0% | 10 | 9810 | ZAFDeclining | $263.8M |
| 2 | HS 271600Electrical energy | $52.9MLatest imports | +49.8% | 3 | 8005 | ZAFDeclining | $103.3M |
| 3 | HS 100590Cereals: maize (corn), other than seed | $30.1MLatest imports | +12.0% | 1 | 10000 | ZAFDeclining | $42.2M |
| 4 | HS 853890Electrical apparatus: parts suitable for use solely or principally with the apparatus of heading no. 8535, 8536 or 8537 | $26.0MLatest imports | +12.7% | 9 | 9863 | ZAFDeclining | $37.2M |
| 5 | HS 110220Cereal flour: of maize (corn) | $25.1MLatest imports | +12.2% | 1 | 10000 | ZAFDeclining | $35.5M |
| 6 | HS 100199Cereals: wheat and meslin, other than durum wheat, other than seed | $20.6MLatest imports | +16.8% | 3 | 9785 | ZAFGrowing | $32.8M |
| 7 | 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 | $15.2MLatest imports | +36.3% | 7 | 9467 | ZAFStable | $29.7M |
| 8 | HS 220600Beverages, fermented: (eg cider, perry, mead) | $12.9MLatest imports | +30.5% | 1 | 10000 | ZAFAccelerating | $25.2M |
| 9 | HS 110100Wheat or meslin flour | $17.4MLatest imports | +13.1% | 2 | 10000 | ZAFStable | $25.1M |
| 10 | HS 220210Waters: including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured | $14.9MLatest imports | +17.1% | 3 | 10000 | ZAFDeclining | $24.0M |
| 11 | HS 252329Cement: portland, other than white, whether or not artificially coloured | $17.8MLatest imports | +8.6% | 3 | 9938 | ZAFAccelerating | $22.8M |
| 12 | HS 300490Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.s. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | $22.1MLatest imports | +18.9% | 25 | 4230 | ZAFDeclining | $37.2M |
| 13 | HS 020714Meat and edible offal: of fowls of the species Gallus domesticus, cuts and offal, frozen | $13.5MLatest imports | +12.5% | 4 | 9410 | ZAFGrowing | $19.2M |
| 14 | HS 870323Vehicles: spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity exceeding 1500cc but not exceeding 3000cc | $15.8MLatest imports | +19.8% | 20 | 4857 | ZAFDeclining | $27.1M |
| 15 | HS 621790Clothing: parts of garments or of clothing accessories, other than those of heading no. 6212 (not knitted or crocheted) | $11.2MLatest imports | +27.0% | 16 | 5705 | ZAFDeclining | $22.0M |
| 16 | HS 230990Dog or cat food: (not put up for retail sale), used in animal feeding | $10.7MLatest imports | +14.2% | 3 | 9524 | ZAFDeclining | $15.9M |
| 17 | HS 600410Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics of a width exceeding 30 cm, other than those of heading 60.01, containing by weight 5% or more of elastomeric yarn but not containing rubber thread | $19.6MLatest imports | +13.0% | 4 | 5025 | CHNDeclining | $28.3M |
| 18 | HS 732690Iron or steel: articles n.e.s. in heading no. 7326 | $11.2MLatest imports | +14.4% | 13 | 8229 | ZAFDeclining | $16.8M |
| 19 | HS 220300Beer: made from malt | $9.6MLatest imports | +13.6% | 1 | 10000 | ZAFDeclining | $14.0M |
| 20 | HS 271113Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, butanes | $7.4MLatest imports | +42.5% | 1 | 10000 | ZAFAccelerating | $14.4M |
| 21 | HS 851712Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks | $9.4MLatest imports | +18.7% | 21 | 7393 | ZAFDeclining | $15.7M |
| 22 | HS 151219Vegetable oils: sunflower seed or safflower oil and their fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified | $9.1MLatest imports | +13.3% | 2 | 10000 | ZAFGrowing | $13.2M |
| 23 | HS 600192Fabrics: pile fabrics (excluding long pile and loop pile), of man-made fibres, knitted or crocheted | $7.5MLatest imports | +25.1% | 3 | 7899 | TWNGrowing | $14.7M |
| 24 | HS 520100Cotton: not carded or combed | $19.0MLatest imports | +29.3% | 11 | 2694 | ZMBDeclining | $37.1M |
| 25 | HS 630499Furnishing articles: of textile materials other than cotton or synthetic fibres, not knitted or crocheted (excluding bedspreads and articles of heading no. 9404) | $6.1MLatest imports | +41.2% | 3 | 9998 | ZAFDeclining | $11.8M |
| 26 | HS 382200Reagents: diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing and prepared diagnostic or laboratory reagents whether or not on a backing, other than those of heading no. 3002 or 3006: certified reference material | $8.1MLatest imports | +38.6% | 20 | 5603 | ZAFDeclining | $15.9M |
| 27 | HS 340290Washing and cleaning preparations: surface-active, whether or not containing soap (excluding those of heading no. 3401), including auxiliary washing preparations, not for retail sale | $6.1MLatest imports | +23.8% | 6 | 9817 | ZAFDeclining | $11.5M |
| 28 | HS 340211Organic surface-active agents: anionic (other than soap), whether or not put up for retail sale | $5.8MLatest imports | +29.3% | 1 | 10000 | ZAFAccelerating | $11.3M |
| 29 | HS 961900Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material | $6.7MLatest imports | +18.9% | 6 | 9848 | ZAFAccelerating | $11.3M |
| 30 | HS 540772Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of synthetic filaments (excluding nylon or other polyamides and polyesters), dyed | $5.7MLatest imports | +41.9% | 2 | 9945 | ZAFStable | $11.2M |
| 31 | HS 392690Plastics: other articles n.e.s. in chapter 39 | $9.0MLatest imports | +10.9% | 30 | 8175 | ZAFDeclining | $12.3M |
| 32 | HS 870322Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1000 but not over 1500cc | $9.1MLatest imports | +33.2% | 9 | 4757 | JPNStable | $17.9M |
| 33 | HS 190420Food preparations: obtained from unroasted cereal flakes or from mixtures of unroasted cereal flakes and roasted cereal flakes or swelled cereals | $5.3MLatest imports | +28.2% | 3 | 9994 | ZAFAccelerating | $10.4M |
| 34 | HS 110313Cereal groats and meal: of maize (corn) | $9.4MLatest imports | +10.4% | 2 | 8311 | ZAFAccelerating | $12.7M |
| 35 | HS 870195Tractors: n.e.c. in heading no 8701 (other than tractors of heading no 8709): of an engine power exceeding 130kW | $6.1MLatest imports | +35.3% | 3 | 7556 | CHNAccelerating | $11.8M |
| 36 | HS 851761Base stations | $5.4MLatest imports | +53.6% | 13 | 9016 | CHNDeclining | $10.6M |
| 37 | 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 | $5.6MLatest imports | +25.4% | 2 | 9195 | ZAFStable | $11.0M |
| 38 | HS 853521Electrical apparatus: automatic circuit breakers, for a voltage exceeding 1000 volts but less than 72.5kV | $4.7MLatest imports | +40.5% | 3 | 9921 | ZAFDeclining | $9.1M |
| 39 | HS 091099Spices: mixtures of 2 or more products of the same heading | $6.7MLatest imports | +9.1% | 4 | 9974 | ZAFSlowing | $8.7M |
| 40 | HS 121410Lucerne (alfalfa) meal and pellets | $5.7MLatest imports | +14.5% | 1 | 10000 | ZAFAccelerating | $8.6M |
| 41 | HS 850440Electrical static converters | $5.9MLatest imports | +20.5% | 19 | 6897 | CHNDeclining | $10.3M |
| 42 | HS 847490Machines, for sorting, screening, separating, washing, crushing etc mineral substances, for agglomerating, shaping or moulding solid fuels, ceramic pastes etc, for forming foundry moulds of sand: parts | $5.5MLatest imports | +22.1% | 6 | 7206 | ZAFGrowing | $10.1M |
| 43 | HS 870899Vehicle parts and accessories: n.e.c. in heading no. 8708 | $7.5MLatest imports | +8.7% | 24 | 7552 | ZAFDeclining | $9.7M |
| 44 | HS 382499Chemical products, mixtures and preparations: n.e.c. heading 3824 | $4.2MLatest imports | +45.0% | 8 | 9613 | ZAFGrowing | $8.1M |
| 45 | HS 843149Machinery: parts of machines handling earth, minerals or ores and n.e.c. in heading no. 8431 | $7.1MLatest imports | +31.5% | 7 | 4552 | ZAFDeclining | $13.8M |
| 46 | HS 847130Data processing machines: portable, digital and automatic, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display | $5.8MLatest imports | +12.3% | 18 | 9028 | ZAFGrowing | $8.2M |
| 47 | HS 560313Nonwovens: whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated, of man-made filaments, (weighing more than 70g/m2 but not more than 150g/m2) | $3.8MLatest imports | +50.8% | 1 | 10000 | ZAFAccelerating | $7.4M |
| 48 | HS 200990Juices: mixtures of fruits or vegetables (but not nut juice), unfermented, not containing added spirit, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter | $4.6MLatest imports | +16.5% | 2 | 10000 | ZAFGrowing | $7.3M |
| 49 | HS 271119Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, n.e.c. in heading no. 2711 | $4.6MLatest imports | +16.4% | 1 | 10000 | ZAFDeclining | $7.3M |
| 50 | HS 870422Vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), for transport of goods, (of a g.v.w. exceeding 5 tonnes but not exceeding 20 tonnes), nes in item no 8704.1 | $5.2MLatest imports | +16.0% | 7 | 8081 | ZAFDeclining | $8.0M |
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 | 1 | $198.1M | $261.2M | +10.0% |
| Mineral fuelsHS2 27 | 3 | $64.9M | $112.6M | +36.2% |
| VehiclesHS2 87 | 6 | $58.9M | $82.8M | +24.9% |
| Electrical equipmentHS2 85 | 5 | $51.4M | $77.9M | +29.2% |
| CerealsHS2 10 | 2 | $50.6M | $74.6M | +14.4% |
| Milling productsHS2 11 | 3 | $52.0M | $71.0M | +11.9% |
| BeveragesHS2 22 | 3 | $37.4M | $63.2M | +20.4% |
| Knitted fabricsHS2 60 | 2 | $27.1M | $28.1M | +19.1% |
| MachineryHS2 84 | 3 | $18.4M | $24.1M | +22.0% |
| Salt, sulphur, earths and stoneHS2 25 | 1 | $17.8M | $22.7M | +8.6% |
| Soap and preparationsHS2 34 | 2 | $11.8M | $22.7M | +26.6% |
| Pharmaceutical productsHS2 30 | 1 | $22.1M | $19.8M | +18.9% |
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 100590Cereals: maize (corn), other than seed | $30.1M | 1 | 10000 | ZAF | 100.0% |
| HS 110220Cereal flour: of maize (corn) | $25.1M | 1 | 10000 | ZAF | 100.0% |
| HS 220600Beverages, fermented: (eg cider, perry, mead) | $12.9M | 1 | 10000 | ZAF | 100.0% |
| HS 220300Beer: made from malt | $9.6M | 1 | 10000 | ZAF | 100.0% |
| HS 271113Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, butanes | $7.4M | 1 | 10000 | ZAF | 94.7% |
| HS 340211Organic surface-active agents: anionic (other than soap), whether or not put up for retail sale | $5.8M | 1 | 10000 | ZAF | 99.8% |
| HS 121410Lucerne (alfalfa) meal and pellets | $5.7M | 1 | 10000 | ZAF | 99.2% |
| HS 560313Nonwovens: whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated, of man-made filaments, (weighing more than 70g/m2 but not more than 150g/m2) | $3.8M | 1 | 10000 | ZAF | 98.3% |
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.
ZAF
South Africa
43 screened products
$988.7MCalculated opportunity across these rowsCHN
China
4 screened products
$43.9MCalculated opportunity across these rowsTWN
Taiwan
1 screened products
$12.9MCalculated opportunity across these rowsZMB
Zambia
1 screened products
$12.4MCalculated opportunity across these rowsJPN
Japan
1 screened products
$10.7MCalculated opportunity across these rowsFrequently asked questions
Using the Lesotho 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 Lesotho'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 Lesotho.
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.