U.S. trade with Laos rose 387.1 percent through August

Laos’s trade with the United States increased to $1.75 B through the first eight months of 2025, according to a WorldCity analysis of latest U.S. Census Bureau data. That’s 387.1 percent above its total trade during the same time period last year ago. U.S. exports to Laos decreased 57.31 percent while U.S. imports from Laos rose 429.32 percent. The U.S. deficit with Laos was $1.72 B.

Through August, the top five among the nation’s airports, seaports and border crossings were No. 1 Port of Los Angeles; No. 2 Port of Newark; No. 3 Port of Houston; No. 4 Port of Long Beach; and No. 5 Houston Intercontinental Airport. During the same period the previous year, the top five were No. 1 Otay Mesa Freeway Border Crossing, CA; No. 2 Port of Los Angeles; No. 3 Ysleta-Zaragoza International Bridge, TX; No. 4 Los Angeles International Airport and No. 5 Port of Newark. In the current time period, the top five accounted for 69.3 percent of Laos’s U.S. trade.

Among those top five:

• Trade with No.1 Port of Los Angeles rose 1076 percent to $619.72 million.
  Exports rose 151.63 percent to $2.5 million. Imports rose 1094 percent to $617.22 million.
• Trade with No.2 Port of Newark rose 829.54 percent to $239.14 million.
  Exports rose 142.41 percent to $940,339. Imports rose 840.06 percent to $238.2 million.
• Trade with No.3 Port of Houston rose 2200 percent to $133.84 million.
  Exports rose 35.25 percent to $900,888. Imports rose 2480 percent to $132.94 million.
• Trade with No.4 Port of Long Beach rose 1188 percent to $112.78 million.
  Exports fell 66.28 percent to $287,802. Imports rose 1324 percent to $112.5 million.
• Trade with No.5 Houston Intercontinental Airport rose 29225 percent to $104.2 million.
  There were no exports. Imports rose 43531 percent to $104.2 million.

Laos ranked No. 85 among the United States’ top trade partners through the current period. In the same period one year ago, it ranked No. 117.

Meanwhile, total U.S. trade with the world increased to $3.75 T, up 6.87 percent compared to the same period last year. The nation’s exports climbed 3.86 percent to $1.43 T; imports climbed 8.81 percent to $2.32 T. The nation’s top five countries so far this year, by value, are Mexico; Canada; China; Switzerland and Germany. The overall trade deficit was $892.21 B, up compared to the same period of last year when the deficit was $757.53 B.

The top five U.S. exports to Laos by value through August were the categories of Sugar and starch residues; Vegetable extracts, pectates, agar, etc.; Paper, paperboard scrap; Rice; and Taps, valves for pipes, respectively. They accounted for 43.98 percent of total exports to Laos.

The value of the top five categories of U.S. imports from Laos –– Solar panels, etc.; Optical fibers; Mattresses and other bedding products; Corrective lens, goggles, protective eyewear; and Cell phones, related equipment –– accounted for 93.52 percent of all inbound shipments.

Looking more closely at U.S. exports to Laos:

• Sugar and starch residues rose 20.93 percent compared to last year to $1.8 million.
• Vegetable extracts, pectates, agar, etc. rose 1042 percent compared to last year to $1.16 million.
• Paper, paperboard scrap rose 4.45 percent compared to last year to $1.01 million.
• Rice rose 80.24 percent compared to last year to $997,051.
• Taps, valves for pipes rose 78.41 percent compared to last year to $878,825.

Looking more closely at U.S. imports from Laos:

• Solar panels, etc. rose 2147 percent compared to last year to $1.38 billion.
• Optical fibers rose 57.94 percent compared to last year to $90.3 million.
• Mattresses and other bedding products rose 103.9 percent compared to last year to $56.17 million.
• Corrective lens, goggles, protective eyewear rose 77.74 percent compared to last year to $54.73 million.
• Cell phones, related equipment fell 37.3 percent compared to last year to $35.89 million.

In the latest annual figures available, Laos recorded $843.71 M in trade with the United States. Total U.S. exports to Laos were $ 40.39 M and imports from Laos were $803.32 M. The U.S. deficit with Laos was $762.93 M.