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The twenty imports Laos is best placed to replace.

Laos imported USD 6.8bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 4.6bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well and where one country supplies most of them.

USD 1.1bnthe twenty, imported in 2024
69products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
213products Laos already exports well
154product lines imported at USD 10m or more
The twenty

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing Laos already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Laos would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.

This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and Laos does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

    Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matterHS 170199

    Comes fromThailand 100%, 2 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSugars: molasses, from sugar cane, resulting from the extraction or... (exports USD 6m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 4m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 22m
    Countries that export it well44

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 206m, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 10 per cent (3); Thailand supplies 100 per cent (2).

    USD 206mdown 9% on 2022
  2. 2

    Non-alcoholic beverages: other than non-alcoholic beer, n.e.c. in item no. 2202.10, not including fruit, nut or...HS 220299

    Comes fromThailand 98%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 1 more line in the heading, USD 34m
    Countries that export it well41

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 99m, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 19 per cent (2); Thailand supplies 98 per cent (2).

    USD 99mup 35% on 2022
  3. 3

    Wood: for fuel, in chips or particles, non-coniferous, whether or not agglomeratedHS 440122

    Comes fromThailand 100%, 1 source country
    Nearest export strengthWood: charcoal of wood other than bamboo, nut or shell, whether or... (exports USD 102m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 179k
    Countries that export it well13

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 80m, top 5 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 12 per cent (2); Thailand supplies 100 per cent (2).

    USD 80mdown 13% on 2022
  4. 4

    Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, containing indentations, ribs, grooves...HS 721420

    Comes fromThailand 59%, 2 source countries
    Nearest export strengthIron or steel (excluding cast iron): tubes, pipes and hollow...
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well45

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 67m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 5 per cent (3); Thailand supplies 59 per cent (1).

    USD 67mup 52% on 2022
  5. 5

    Food preparations: pasta (excluding stuffed), cooked or otherwise preparedHS 190230

    Comes fromThailand 88%, 5 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 3k
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 57m, top 10 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3); Thailand supplies 88 per cent (2).

    USD 57mup 46% on 2022
  6. 6

    Food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10HS 210690

    Comes fromThailand 83%, 24 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPreparations with a basis of extracts, essences or concentrates or... (exports USD 4m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 32k
    Countries that export it well51

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 57m, top 10 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 31 per cent (1); Thailand supplies 83 per cent (2).

    USD 57mup 45% on 2022
  7. 7

    Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof, n.e.c. in heading 7308HS 730890

    Comes fromChina 92%, 13 source countries
    Nearest export strengthIron or steel (excluding cast iron): tubes, pipes and hollow... (exports USD 33m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 205k
    Countries that export it well33

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 42m, top 21 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 21 per cent (2); China supplies 92 per cent (2).

    USD 42mup 18% on 2022
  8. 8

    Dog or cat food: (not put up for retail sale), used in animal feedingHS 230990

    Comes fromThailand 95%, 6 source countries
    Nearest export strengthBran, sharps and other residues: of other cereals, whether or not in... (exports USD 1m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well48

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 38m, top 24 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 16 per cent (2); Thailand supplies 95 per cent (2).

    USD 38mdown 63% on 2022
  9. 9

    Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, ammonium sulphateHS 310221

    Comes fromChina 86%, 2 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFertilizers, mineral or chemical: potassic, potassium chloride (exports USD 822m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 28m
    Countries that export it well18

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 55m, top 11 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 38 per cent (1); China supplies 86 per cent (2).

    USD 55mup 246% on 2022
  10. 10

    Insulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, not fitted with connectorsHS 854449

    Comes fromChina 73%, 12 source countries
    Nearest export strengthElectrical apparatus: photosensitive semiconductor devices... (exports USD 277m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 6m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 21m
    Countries that export it well35

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 48m, top 13 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 31 per cent (1); China supplies 73 per cent (2).

    USD 48mup 30% on 2022
  11. 11

    Amino-acids, other than those containing more than one kind of oxygen function, and their esters: glutamic acid and...HS 292242

    Comes fromThailand 100%, 4 source countries
    Nearest export strengthElectrical apparatus: photosensitive semiconductor devices...
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well9

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 47m, top 16 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 47 per cent (1); Thailand supplies 100 per cent (2).

    USD 47mup 5% on 2022
  12. 12

    Washing and cleaning preparations: powders, flakes and granules, surface-active, whether or not containing soap...HS 340250

    Comes fromThailand 98%, 8 source countries
    Nearest export strengthIron or steel (excluding cast iron): tubes, pipes and hollow...
    Exports of this lineUSD 23k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 25m
    Countries that export it well39

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 42m, top 19 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 34 per cent (1); Thailand supplies 98 per cent (2).

    USD 42mup 42% on 2022
  13. 13

    Spirits obtained by distilling grape wine or grape marcHS 220820

    Comes fromChina 99%, 11 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 1 more line in the heading, USD 19m
    Countries that export it well16

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 42m, top 20 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 42 per cent (1); China supplies 99 per cent (2).

    USD 42mfrom USD 1m in 2022
  14. 14

    Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins (diapers), napkin liners and similar articles, of any materialHS 961900

    Comes fromThailand 98%, 4 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 8k
    Countries that export it well34

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 38m, top 23 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 27 per cent (1); Thailand supplies 98 per cent (2).

    USD 38mup 26% on 2022
  15. 15

    Tractors: single axleHS 870110

    Comes fromThailand 96%, 2 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 73m
    Countries that export it well27

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 36m, top 25 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 44 per cent (1); Thailand supplies 96 per cent (2).

    USD 36mup 110% on 2022
  16. 16

    Plastics: sacks and bags (including cones), for the conveyance or packing of goods, of plastics other than ethylene...HS 392329

    Comes fromThailand 85%, 11 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPlastics: articles of apparel and clothing accessories (including... (exports USD 2m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 17k; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 53m
    Countries that export it well35

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 29m, top 31 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 16 per cent (2); Thailand supplies 85 per cent (2).

    USD 29mup 65% on 2022
  17. 17

    Sauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasoningsHS 210390

    Comes fromThailand 93%, 8 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPreparations with a basis of extracts, essences or concentrates or... (exports USD 4m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 3k
    Countries that export it well45

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 26m, top 35 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 14 per cent (2); Thailand supplies 93 per cent (2).

    USD 26mup 11% on 2022
  18. 18

    Juices: mixtures of fruits or vegetables (but not nut juice), unfermented, not containing added spirit, whether or not...HS 200990

    Comes fromThailand 100%, 2 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFruit, nuts and other edible parts of plants: prepared or preserved... (exports USD 5m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 1 more line in the heading, USD 13m
    Countries that export it well40

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 22m, top 44 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 14 per cent (2); Thailand supplies 100 per cent (2).

    USD 22mup 149% on 2022
  19. 19

    Ceramic tiles: flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles other than those of subheadings 6907.30 and 6907.40, of a water...HS 690722

    Comes fromThailand 59%, 2 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 1 more line in the heading, USD 20m
    Countries that export it well27

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 20m, top 49 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3); Thailand supplies 59 per cent (1).

    USD 20mdown 13% on 2022
  20. 20

    Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings 60.01 to 60.04, of cotton, dyedHS 600622

    Comes fromChina 78%, 4 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFabrics: knitted or crocheted, other than those of heading 60.01, of... (exports USD 150k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 40k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 13m
    Countries that export it well21

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 14m, top 71 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Laos's export strengths in the top 9 per cent (3); China supplies 78 per cent (2).

    USD 14mup 113% on 2022

One line per customs heading. Products Laos already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.

Made here already, still imported

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

  • Lustres: liquid lustres and similar preparations imports USD 43m, exports USD 801k, top source Taiwan 76%
  • Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: containing the three fertilizing elements... imports USD 48m, exports USD 17m, top source China 51%
  • Preparations with a basis of extracts, essences or concentrates or with a... imports USD 19m, exports USD 4m, top source Thailand 100%
How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 154 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.

Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.

Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.

Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.

What it cannot tell you

A map of where to look.

Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-02. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.

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