Trade Profile

flag Lesotho Lesotho: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Though it is an landlocked country, foreign trade plays key role in Lesotho’s economy, representing 132% of GDP in 2021 (World Bank). The southern African nation is a member of the SACU (Southern African Customs Union) Free Trade Area and enjoys privileged access to markets in the EU (through the Economic Partnership Agreement and the SADC-EFTA Free Trade Agreement), the United States (African Growth Opportunity Act), Latin America (Mercosur), as well as Canada, Japan and the Scandinavian countries. The country's trade policy is designed to liberalise the economy and reach more export markets. However, long and complicated red tape and the large number of documents required can limit or even discourage exchanges. Lesotho mainly exports textiles (43.4% of total exports), diamonds (34.8%), wool (6.3%), electrical machinery, cotton, flour and footwear; and its main imports include mineral fuels (15.41% of total imports), electrical machinery, fabrics, vehicles, machinery, food, cereal flours, cotton and medicines (International Trade Centre, 2021).

Lesotho's main customers are South Africa (33.4% of total exports), Belgium (32.7%), the United States (29.5%) and Germany (1%). Its main suppliers are South Africa (71.1% of total imports), China (8.5%), Taiwan (5.5%), Italy (3.8%) and India (3.3%) (International Trade Centre, 2020, latest data available).

Lesotho's trade balance is structurally in deficit, a trend that is expected to continue. According to WTO data, in 2021 Lesotho collected USD 1.064 billion from exports of goods but spent USD 2.051 billion in imports. The country imported services worth USD 407 million, while it exported USD 19 million. The trade deficit reached USD 753 million in 2021 (World Bank). Trade volumes rebounded from the decline caused by the global health crisis. However, Lesotho's exports of textiles and diamonds suffer from weak external demand.

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20172018201920202021
Imports of Goods (million USD) 2,1072,1852,0161,8112,051
Exports of Goods (million USD) 1,0281,2211,0638881,064
Imports of Services (million USD) 319433402341407
Exports of Services (million USD) 3130271019
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 01-1-1n/a
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 26-13-18n/a
Trade Balance (million USD) -799-710-719-713-753
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 144143135128132
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 9894918889
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 4649454043

Source: WTO – World Trade Organisation ; World Bank - Latest available data.

Return to top

 
 

To go further, check out our service Import Export Flows

 
 

Main Services

0.0 bn USD of services exported in 2018
71.66%
15.52%
8.34%
3.38%
0.66%
0.34%
0.07%
0.03%
0.5 bn USD of services imported in 2018
68.99%
12.66%
8.65%
4.80%
2.43%
1.64%
0.67%
0.16%

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest Available Data

Return to top

Commercial Policy

International Economic Cooperation
Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Member of South African Development Community (SADC)

Member of Southern African Customs Union (SACU)

Assessment of Commercial Policy
Country’s commercial policy
Average Customs Duty (Excluding Agricultural Products)
9.14%
 
 

Trade Compliance

International Conventions
Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
International Economic Cooperation
Member of South African Development Community (SADC)

Member of Southern African Customs Union (SACU)

Useful Resources
Lesotho Revenue Authority – LRA
 
 
 

Return to top

Any Comment About This Content? Report It to Us.

 

© eexpand, All Rights Reserved.
Latest Update: September 2023