U.S. trade with Lesotho fell 13.18 percent through August

Lesotho’s trade with the United States decreased to $127.57 M through the first eight months of 2025, according to a WorldCity analysis of latest U.S. Census Bureau data. That’s 13.18 percent below its total trade during the same time period last year ago. U.S. exports to Lesotho decreased 23.64 percent while U.S. imports from Lesotho fell 13.02 percent. The U.S. deficit with Lesotho was $124.27 M.

Through August, the top five among the nation’s airports, seaports and border crossings were No. 1 Port of Newark; No. 2 John F. Kennedy International Airport; No. 3 Port of Charleston; No. 4 Port of Los Angeles; and No. 5 Port of Seattle, WA. During the same period the previous year, the top five were No. 1 Port of Newark; No. 2 John F. Kennedy International Airport; No. 3 Port of Charleston; No. 4 Port of Houston and No. 5 Port of Savannah, GA. In the current time period, the top five accounted for 91.65 percent of Lesotho’s U.S. trade.

Among those top five:

• Trade with No.1 Port of Newark rose 0.36 percent to $73.19 million.
  There were no exports. Imports rose 0.36 percent to $73.19 million.
• Trade with No.2 John F. Kennedy International Airport fell 50.64 percent to $22.03 million.
  Exports rose 402.47 percent to $103,021. Imports fell 50.85 percent to $21.93 million.
• Trade with No.3 Port of Charleston fell 16.03 percent to $14.84 million.
  Exports totaled $20,512. Imports fell 16.14 percent to $14.82 million.
• Trade with No.4 Port of Los Angeles rose 7678 percent to $3.5 million.
  There were no exports. Imports rose 7678 percent to $3.5 million.
• Trade with No.5 Port of Seattle, WA totaled $3.36 million.
  There were no exports. Imports totaled $3.36 million.

Lesotho ranked No. 154 among the United States’ top trade partners through the current period. In the same period one year ago, it ranked No. 149.

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 Lesotho by value through August were the categories of Cereal groats, meal, pellets; Malt extract < 40% cocoa; Fish fillets, chilled or frozen; Misc. vegetable fats, oils; and Dried beans, peas, etc., respectively. They accounted for 73.5 percent of total exports to Lesotho.

The value of the top five categories of U.S. imports from Lesotho –– Men's or boys' slacks, suits, not knit; Diamonds, not mounted; Women's or girls' suits, knit or crochet; Men's or boys' shirts, knit or crochet; and Sweaters, pullovers, vests, knit or crochet –– accounted for 77.31 percent of all inbound shipments.

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

• Cereal groats, meal, pellets fell 32.74 percent compared to last year to $461,745.
• Malt extract < 40% cocoa fell 8.12 percent compared to last year to $253,094.
• Fish fillets, chilled or frozen totaled $203,711. The previous year, there were no export in this category.
• Misc. vegetable fats, oils fell 50.64 percent compared to last year to $179,444.
• Dried beans, peas, etc. fell 30.58 percent compared to last year to $117,819.

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

• Men's or boys' slacks, suits, not knit rose 16.84 percent compared to last year to $27.94 million.
• Diamonds, not mounted fell 49.37 percent compared to last year to $21.28 million.
• Women's or girls' suits, knit or crochet fell 2 percent compared to last year to $19.47 million.
• Men's or boys' shirts, knit or crochet fell 24.92 percent compared to last year to $16.76 million.
• Sweaters, pullovers, vests, knit or crochet rose 34.49 percent compared to last year to $11.9 million.

In the latest annual figures available, Lesotho recorded $240.05 M in trade with the United States. Total U.S. exports to Lesotho were $ 2.79 M and imports from Lesotho were $237.26 M. The U.S. deficit with Lesotho was $234.46 M.