Laos: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 5 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Laos.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓

No elevated country indicator for Laos in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Laos may still be on a list.

Check a shipment to Laos →

On the sanctions lists

5 entries on the official lists name Laos — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.

List	Entries	Companies & organisations	Vessels	Aircraft
US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN)	4	4	—	—
UK Sanctions List (FCDO)	1	1	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Laos recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Laos: logistics and trade

Inland transit corridor / energy and raw materials exporter

Laos (ISO code: LA) is a socialist people's republic in Southeast Asia and the only landlocked country in the region; it borders China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. The climate is tropical monsoon, with a rainy season (May to October) and a dry season (November to April). Economically, Laos is agricultural and resource-oriented; hydropower electricity, copper, gold, wood products and agricultural goods dominate exports, while machinery, fuels and consumer goods are imported. Logistically, the country depends on transit: it has no seaports, and foreign trade runs via Thailand and Vietnam and increasingly via the Laos-China Railway (Boten-Vientiane, since December 2021) with the Thanaleng Dry Port and the Vientiane Logistics Park. Customs clearance is handled digitally via the National Single Window ASYCUDA+ (NSWA+); the import VAT is 10 percent. Laos is a member of ASEAN and RCEP. With the planned graduation from the group of Least Developed Countries on 24 November 2026, the duty-free EU EBA preferences will lapse.

Capital: Vientiane
Population: 7,769,819
Area: 236,800 km²
Currency: Lao kip (LAK)
Continent: Asia
Region: Southeast Asia / ASEAN
Economic area: ASEAN (AFTA/ATIGA)
Religions: Buddhism
Access to the sea: Landlocked

Transport modes Rail · Road · Inland waterway · Air

Current situation: Laos-China Railway (Boten-Vientiane, since 3.12.2021) and Thanaleng Dry Port / Vientiane Logistics Park strengthen rail freight towards China. LDC graduation on 24.11.2026.
Seasonal conditions: Monsoon rainy season May to October with flood and landslide risk on roads; dry season November to April. Low water on the Mekong may restrict inland waterway shipping.

Main cargo airports

Wattay International AirportVTE
Wattay (VTE), Vientiane: the only full-service air cargo airport in Laos, with bonded terminals, on-site customs and road and rail links to China and Thailand.
Luang Phabang International AirportLPQ
Luang Prabang (LPQ): tourism-focused Laos airport with belly cargo only. For scheduled airfreight, route via the Wattay (VTE) cargo terminal in Vientiane.

Road corridors

R3A Kunming-Boten-Houayxay-Bangkok (GMS North-South Corridor)
East-West Corridor R9 Savannakhet-Dansavanh (Thailand-Vietnam)
Friendship Bridges over the Mekong to Thailand

Rail corridors

Laos-China Railway Vientiane-Boten-Kunming (standard gauge)
ASEAN Express (Malaysia-Thailand-Laos-China)
Connection of Thanaleng to the Thai metre-gauge network

Inland ports

Thanaleng Dry Port (Vientiane)
Vientiane Logistics Park
Savannakhet Dry Port
Mekong river ports

Main trade lanes

Laos-China (rail)
Laos-Thailand
Laos-Vietnam
Laos-EU (EBA until 2026)

Customs and import

Customs authority Lao Customs Department (Customs Department, Ministry of Finance)Official website ↗

Import customs system: Electronic import declaration via NSWA+ (National Single Window ASYCUDA+, since Nov 2022), based on ASYCUDA (since 2012). Operated by BIVAC (Lao) in a joint venture with the Customs Department.
Export customs system: Export declaration also via NSWA+/Lao National Single Window; permits, certificates of origin and duties are handled digitally.
Import VAT: 10 percent standard rate (Presidential Decree 003/PS, since 1. May 2024; previously 7 percent), levied on the customs value. Excise duty 5 to 90 percent depending on the goods.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Form D (ATIGA/ASEAN), RCEP origin declaration, Form E (ACFTA), AANZFTA and others; EU until 24.11.2026 via EBA (origin via REX/Form A).
Restricted and prohibited goods: Prohibited: weapons, drugs, raw log export (export ban). Licence required: wood products, wildlife/CITES, cultural property, pharmaceuticals, certain chemicals.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Waybill (CMR / rail waybill / AWB)
Import licence if required
Certificate of origin
Customs declaration NSWA+

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Proof of origin (Form D/E or RCEP)
Export declaration NSWA+
Export permit for wood/CITES

Logistics conditions

Customs complexity: Medium to high
Customs delays: Medium to high
Dangerous goods relevance: Medium
Pharma and cold chain relevance: Medium
E-commerce relevance: Low to medium

Trade

Top import partners

China Thailand Viet Nam Japan South Korea

Top export partners

China Thailand Viet Nam Japan United States

Top import goods

Machinery
Vehicles
Petroleum products
Consumer goods
Chemicals

Top export goods

Electricity
Copper
Gold
Wood products

Typical cargo

Hydropower electricity
Copper and gold
Wood products
Agricultural products (coffee, cassava, bananas)
Textiles
Machinery and consumer goods (import)

Latest logistics news

China-Laos Railway Exceeds 90 Million Tonnes in Total Freight17 Sept 2026
The China-Laos Railway is developing into a regional trade corridor. A total of 90 million tonnes of freight have been transported, of which 21 million tonnes crossed borders.

Logistics questions

Does Laos have its own seaports?

No. Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia and has no seaports. Sea freight runs via ports in Thailand (e.g. Laem Chabang) or Vietnam and is transported onward by road, rail or the Mekong.

What is the import VAT rate in Laos?

The standard rate is 10 percent (since 1. May 2024, Presidential Decree 003/PS; previously 7 percent). Depending on the goods, an additional excise duty of 5 to 90 percent may apply.

Which customs system does Laos use?

Customs declarations are made electronically via the National Single Window ASYCUDA+ (NSWA+, since November 2022), which builds on ASYCUDA and is operated by the Customs Department of the Ministry of Finance.

What is the significance of the Laos-China Railway for freight?

The standard-gauge railway Vientiane-Boten-Kunming, in operation since December 2021, has greatly boosted rail freight. Cargo is transhipped via the Thanaleng Dry Port between the Thai metre-gauge network and the Chinese standard-gauge network.

Which free trade agreements apply to Laos?

Laos is a member of ASEAN (ATIGA) and RCEP and uses agreements such as ACFTA and AANZFTA. Until LDC graduation on 24 November 2026, the duty-free EU EBA preferences also apply.

What currency is used in Laos?

The legal tender is the Lao kip (LAK). The currency tends to depreciate and experience inflation, which affects import costs and price calculations.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗