Laos (LAO) and South Africa (ZAF) Trade | The Observatory of Economic Complexity

About

Laos-South Africa Trade: In 2023, Laos exported $2.11M to South Africa. The main products that Laos exported to South Africa were Broadcasting Equipment ($930k), Video Displays ($750k), and Rubber Footwear ($135k). Over the past 5 years the exports of Laos to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 1.49%, from $2.28M in 2018 to $2.11M in 2023.

In 2023, Laos did not export any services to South Africa.

South Africa-Laos Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $495k to Laos. The main products that South Africa exported to Laos were Wine ($91.1k), Industrial Fatty Acids, Oils and Alcohols ($56.8k), and Processed Tobacco ($44.9k). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Laos have increased at an annualized rate of 0.84%, from $433k in 2018 to $495k in 2023.

In 2023, South Africa did not export any services to Laos.

Comparison: In 2023, Laos ranked 107 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI -0.89), and 108 in total exports ($8.7B). That same year, South Africa ranked 59 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.07), and 34 in total exports ($154B).

Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth

HS2

HS4

HS6

Value

Trade

Growth

Growth (%)

Year

In 2023, Laos exported $2.11M to South Africa. The main products exported from Laos to South Africa were Broadcasting Equipment ($930k), Video Displays ($750k), and Rubber Footwear ($135k). During the last 5 years the exports of Laos to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 1.49%, from $2.28M in 2018 to $2.11M in 2023.

In 2018, South Africa exported $495k to Laos. The main products exported from South Africa to Laos were Wine ($91.1k), Industrial Fatty Acids, Oils and Alcohols ($56.8k), and Processed Tobacco ($44.9k). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Laos have increased at an annualized rate of 0.84%, from $433k in 2023 to $495k in 2018.

Exports from Laos () to South Africa () (2023)

Exports from South Africa () to Laos () (2023)

Latest Data

Trade between Laos () and South Africa ()

Laos Exports

Date

South Africa Exports

Date

Market Competitiveness

Color

Exports

Export Growth

Section

Year

Laos
Top DestinationChina$3.41B

South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B

This map shows whether countries import more from Laos or South Africa. Each country is colored based on the difference in imports they receive from Laos and South Africa or the difference in the growth in imports.

In 2023, countries that imported more from Laos than South Africa included Thailand ($2.99B), Cambodia ($190M), and Burma ($5.8M).

In 2023, countries that imported more from South Africa than Laos included China ($29.5B), United States ($13B), and India ($10.8B).

Difference in imports from South Africa () and Laos () (2023)

Comparative Advantage Laos - South Africa

Flow

Section

HS2

HS4

Scale

Log

Linear

Year

This chart compares trade between Laos and South Africa by product, considering products traded by both, Laos and South Africa.

During 2023, Laos had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Machines ($1.79M), Footwear and Headwear ($276k), and Textiles ($46.1k).

During 2018, South Africa had a large net trade with Laos in the exports of Machines ($159k), Foodstuffs ($136k), and Metals ($69.5k).

Potential Exports

Depth

Section

HS2

HS4

View

Top 20

Top 15

Top 10

Sort By

Highest Potential

Most Saturated

Section

Top Product Potential Laos South Africa+$1.82MTelephones

Top Product Potential South Africa Laos+$116kOther Heating Machinery

We estimate the export potential of an economy for each product and destination using an extension of the bilateral relatedness model of Jun et al. (2019).This extended gravity model considers similarities among products and geographies and explains more than 50% of the variance in future trade flows.

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

Year

This visualization shows the product space at the HS4 level with the flags of Laos and South Africa. This means that a dot/product with the flag of Laos indicates it has a comparative advantage over South Africa. Similarly, a dot/product with the flag of South Africa indicates it has a comparative advantage over Laos.

About

Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Exports from Laos () to South Africa () (2023)

Exports from South Africa () to Laos () (2023)

Latest Data

Trade between Laos () and South Africa ()

Laos Exports

South Africa Exports

Market Competitiveness

Difference in imports from South Africa () and Laos () (2023)

Comparative Advantage Laos - South Africa

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

Product Space of Laos () and South Africa () (2023)

Keep Exploring