Laos registered record two-way trade of $1.100 billion, including exports of $600 million and imports worth approximately $500 million, in March, resulting in a trade surplus of $100 million. VIENTIANE TIMES
Laos registered record two-way trade of $1.100 billion, including exports of $600 million and imports worth approximately $500 million, in March, resulting in a trade surplus of $100 million.
The main exports included gold, gold bars, paper and paper products, copper ore, wood pulp, waste paper, rubber, cassava, banana, clothing, fertilisers and sugar.
The main imports included inland vehicles (other than motorcycles and tractors), diesel, mechanical equipment (other than motor vehicles), auto parts (including tires, windshields and chains), iron and steel products, plastic products, petrol and premium petrol, wastes from the food industry, chemical products, and tractors.
The main exports by value included $92 million in gold and gold bars, $51 million in paper and paper products, $26 million in copper ore, $27 million in wood pulp and waste paper, $25 million in rubber, $56 million in cassava, $31 million in banana, $23 million in clothing, $25 million in fertilisers, and $25 million in sugar.
The main imports by value included $ 46 million in inland vehicles (other than motorcycles and tractors), $70 million in diesel, $25 million in mechanical equipment (other than motor vehicles), $16 million in auto parts (including tires, windshields and chains), $16 million in iron and steel products, $17 million in plastic products, $18 million in standard- and premium-grade petrol, $10 million in wastes from the food industry, $11 million in chemical products, and $9 million in tractors.
The main countries for exports were China ($198 million), Vietnam ($118 million), Thailand ($115 million), Australia ($38 million), and Singapore ($25 million). The main countries for imports included Thailand ($277 million), China ($86 million), Vietnam ($42 million), the USA ($30 million), and Japan ($16 million).
During 2021, Laos exported goods worth more than $7.600 billion to more than 90 countries and regions around the world. Exports to 12 countries – Thailand, China, Vietnam, Australia, Cambodia, Switzerland, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Germany, India, and the US – were valued at more than $50 million each.
The main products with higher export value were electricity, mixed gold, gold bars, paper, waste paper, copper ore, wood pulp, rubber, cassava, iron ore, bananas, clothing, fertilisers, electronics, camera parts and shoes.
The latest trade figures were posted on the Ministry of Industry and Commerce’s Lao Trade Portal. The trade figures do not include earnings from the export of electricity.
VIENTIANE TIMES/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
