Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Asia & Middle East
Lao People’s Democratic Republic world map

Trade in Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Lao People’s Democratic Republic was the world’s 94th largest exporter of goods and 122nd largest exporter of commercial services in 2025. Export values were $9483 and $1731 million USD respectively. Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s top export category was fuels and mining products, followed by manufactures, and agricultural products. In 2023, Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s main export destination markets for goods and services trade were to China, Vietnam and Thailand. In terms of imports, Lao People’s Democratic Republic is the world’s 117th largest importer of goods and 144th largest importer of commercial services. Import values were $9960 and $1266 million USD respectively in 2025. Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s top import category was manufactures, followed by fuels and mining products and agricultural products.  Leading import partners were Thailand, China and Vietnam. Lao People’s Democratic Republic is part of 10 different Regional Trade Agreements, including with ASEAN – Australia – New Zealand, and ASEAN – China.

 

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General Information

This section includes general information on the economy, legal system, official languages and links to additional demographic information.

Official Name

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Abbreviation

LA

Capital

Vientiane

WTO Membership Date

2 February 2013

Legal System

civil law system similar in form to the French system

Language

Lao, French, English

Additional Information

Financial Information

This section includes financial information such as the currency, exchange rate lookup and local banks issuing trade finance.

Currency

Lao kip

Exchange Rate

 Google Finance Currencies

GTFP Confirming Banks

Through the IFC's Global Trade Finance Program (GTFP) bank network, local financial institutions can establish working partnerships with a vast number of major international banks in the Program that can broaden access to finance and reduce cash collateral requirements. This extends and complements the capacity of banks to deliver trade finance by providing risk mitigation on a per-transaction basis in challenging markets where trade lines may be limited.

  • Maybank Vientiane, Laos - SWIFT: PDRMBBELALA

Contact Information

This section includes contact information for business support organizations and national resources.

SPS Enquiry Points

Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) enquiry points are government agencies designated to answer questions about trade requirements.

  • Department of Planning
    Division of Agriculture and Forestry
    Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
    Phone: +(856) 21 415 363

    P.O. Box 811

    [email protected]

TBT Enquiry Points

Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) enquiry points are government agencies designated to answer questions about trade requirements.

  • Standards Division
    Department of Standardization and Metrology
    Ministry of Science and Technology
    Phone: +(856) 21 732093

    P.O. Box 2279
    Vientiane

Additional Information

 ePing alert

Links to other helpful resources

This section includes additional links to trade-related resources.

National Tariff Finder

 https://laotradeportal.gov.la/index.php?r=tradeInfo/index

Trade Information Portal

 https://www.laotradeportal.gov.la/index.php?r=site/index

Last Reviewed: October, 2026

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