Lesotho
2021 Product Exports | Imports: $1.07B | $1.59B, 160 of 226 | 171 of 226
2021 Per Capita Product Exports | Imports: $494 | $737, 161 of 219 | 166 of 219
2018 Service Exports | Imports : $36.5M | $492M, 136 of 138 | 125 of 138
Overview In 2021 Lesotho was the number 160 economy in the world in terms of total exports and the number 171 in total imports.
Exports The top exports of Lesotho are Diamonds ($373M), Knit Women's Suits ($128M), Non-Knit Men's Suits ($112M), Wool ($57.6M), and Low-voltage Protection Equipment ($44.7M), exporting mostly to United States ($344M), South Africa ($325M), Belgium ($252M), United Arab Emirates ($52.4M), and Switzerland ($30.9M).
Imports The top imports of Lesotho are Refined Petroleum ($166M), Light Rubberized Knitted Fabric ($79.9M), Poultry Meat ($38.9M), Cereal Meal and Pellets ($35.6M), and Electricity ($34.8M), importing mostly from South Africa ($1.39B), China ($84.4M), Chinese Taipei ($47.5M), India ($16M), and Hong Kong ($7.92M).
Location Lesotho borders South Africa by land.
Latest Trends
#permalink to sectionLatest Trade
#permalink to sectionThe following section uses the most recent trade data from partners of Lesotho.
Disclaimer: data is presented based on availability and only countries that use the harmonized system are being shown.
*All data is converted to USD using January 2020 exchange rates when data is reported in local currency.
Latest Data
#permalink to sectionThe data obtained is mirror data. The trade of countries that do not report current data can be reconstructed based on data reported by partner countries with current data available.
*All data is converted to USD using January 2020 exchange rates when data is reported in local currency.
Historical Data
#permalink to sectionYearly Trade
#permalink to sectionTop Export (2021): Diamonds, $373M
Top Destination (2021): United States, $344M
In 2021, Lesotho exported a total of $1.07B, making it the number 160 exporter in the world. During the last five reported years the exports of Lesotho have changed by $122M from $945M in 2016 to $1.07B in 2021.
The most recent exports are led by Diamonds ($373M), Knit Women's Suits ($128M), Non-Knit Men's Suits ($112M), Wool ($57.6M), and Low-voltage Protection Equipment ($44.7M). The most common destination for the exports of Lesotho are United States ($344M), South Africa ($325M), Belgium ($252M), United Arab Emirates ($52.4M), and Switzerland ($30.9M).
Market Growth
#permalink to sectionFastest Growing Export Markets (2020 - 2021)
- South Africa, $54.7M (+ 20.3%)
- United States, $47.1M (+ 15.9%)
- United Arab Emirates, $24.3M (+ 86.6%)
Fastest Growing Import Markets (2020 - 2021)
- South Africa, $323M (+ 30.3%)
- Belgium, $4.57M (+ 306%)
- South Korea, $1.42M (+ 410%)
Service Trade
#permalink to sectionService Trade
#permalink to sectionLesotho Exports Services (2018): $36.5M
Lesotho Imports Services (2018): $492M
In 2018, Lesotho exported $36.5M worth of services. The top services exported by Lesotho in 2018 were Personal travel ($23.4M), Miscellaneous business, professional, and technical services ($5.07M), Merchanting and other trade-related services ($3.83M), Embassies and consulates ($2.73M), and Air transport ($553k).
The top services imported by Lesotho in 2018 were Business travel ($324M), Other transport ($55.4M), Miscellaneous business, professional, and technical services ($41.4M), Government services, n.i.e. ($23M), and Merchanting and other trade-related services ($12.9M).
Economic Complexity
#permalink to sectionMost Specialized Products by RCA Index
#permalink to sectionLesotho has a high level of specialization in Wool (311), Animal Hair (250), Bedspreads (107), Knit Men's Shirts (67.4), and Diamonds (64.3). Specialization is measured using RCA, an index that takes the ratio between Lesotho observed and expected exports in each product.
Most Complex Products by PCI
#permalink to sectionThe highest complexity exports of Lesotho according to the product complexity index (PCI) are Low-voltage Protection Equipment (0.7), Candles (0.31), Non-Retail Synthetic Staple Fibers Yarn (-0.24), Paper Containers (-0.41), and Heavy Mixed Woven Cotton (-0.55). PCI measures the knowledge intensity of a product by considering the knowledge intensity of its exporters.
Export Opportunities by Relatedness
#permalink to sectionThe top export opportunities for Lesotho according to the relatedness index, were Packing Bags (0.12), Non-Knit Women's Undergarments (0.12), Crustaceans (0.11), Cassava (0.11), and Leather Apparel (0.11). Relatedness measures the distance between a country's current exports and each product. The barchart show only products that Lesotho is not specialized in.
Product Space
#permalink to sectionThe product space is a network connecting products that are likely to be co-exported. The product space can be used to predict future exports, since countries are more likely to start exporting products that are related to current exports. Relatedness measures the distance between a product, and all of the products a country currently specializes in.
Diversification Frontier
#permalink to sectionThe Complexity-Relatedness diagram compares the risk vs strategic value of a country's potential export oppotunities. Relatedness is predictive of the probability that a country increases its exports in a product. Complexity, is associated with higher levels of income, economic growth, less income inequality, and lower greenhouse emissions.
