Laos began 2026 on stronger footing, with exports rising to USD 886.7 million in January, up 36 percent from the same month last year. The increase helped the country return to a trade surplus after opening 2025 in deficit.
Gold remained the biggest export, while fuel continued to top the import list. The shift pushed the trade balance back into positive results after last year’s weak start.
Compared to the whole 2025, imports were slightly higher than imports causing a trade deficit of USD 88.8 million.
The figures show that while export activity remained strong, import demand slightly outpaced outbound shipments and trade momentum had slowed over the year.
That contrasts with the whole 2024, when Laos recorded a strong trade surplus of USD 1.54 billion. Exports outpaced imports by a wide margin that year, supported largely by electricity and other key commodities.
Overall, the January 2026 surplus points to a stronger start compared to both January 2025 and the full-year deficit recorded last year. This helped to restore the trade balance early this year, signalling improved trade performance.


