Containers at a check post on the Laos-China border.

Laos’ trade deficit exceeded US$114 million in July

The total two-way trade of Laos in July, excluding electricity exports, was worth US$968 million, including exports valued at US$427 million and imports worth US$541 million.
The trade deficit was recorded at US$114 million, according to the latest figures posted on the Lao Trade Portal on August 12.
The main exports by value were paper and paper products (US$54 million), gold (US$44 million), wood pulp and paper scraps (US$34 million), gold ore (US$34 million), rubber (US$29 million), iron ore (US$23 million), clothing (US$ 22 million), beverages (water, soft drinks and energy drinks worth US$19 million), sugar (US$17 million) and footwear (US$13 million).
The main imports included diesel (US$79 million), mechanical equipment excluding vehicle mechanics (US$56 million), wood and paper scraps (US$35 million), land vehicles excluding motorcycles and tractors (US$34 million), beverages (US$22 million), gasoline (US$22 million), steel and steel products (US$21 million), live animals (US$ 18 million), electrical wires and cables (US$ 18 million) and plastic products (US$ 14 million).
China continued to top the list of countries exporting goods to Laos with US$ 162 million, followed by Vietnam (US$ 105 million), Thailand (US$ 47 million), Australia (US$ 30 million), and Singapore (US$ 13 million).
Thailand lead the list of top five importing counties with US$ 264 million, followed by China (US$ 142 million), Vietnam (US$ 34 million), USA (US$ 31 million), and Japan (US$ 13 million).

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update August 16, 2022)