Lesotho (LSO)

Annual exports and imports in 2024 (USD).

Source: UN Comtrade. Warehouse 1: partner = World totals by HS4 and year.

Exports

$1.00B

Imports

$1.88B

Total trade

$2.88B

Trade balance

-$873.82M

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Lesotho - trade dependency by partner, 2024 (USD)

Share of exports, imports, and total trade attributed to each partner.

Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Snapshot: 20251222 | Source: UN Comtrade

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Showing top 10 partners by total dependency.

Rank #1

South Africa (ZAF)

Total

71.8%

Exports

58.5%

$587.69M

Imports

78.9%

$1.48B

Total

71.8%

$2.07B

Rank #2

Belgium (BEL)

Total

8.3%

Exports

23.5%

$236.41M

Imports

0.2%

$3.03M

Total

8.3%

$239.44M

Rank #3

China (CHN)

Total

6.7%

Exports

0.0%

Imports

10.3%

$193.29M

Total

6.7%

$193.29M

Rank #4

USA (USA)

Total

5.4%

Exports

14.5%

$146.18M

Imports

0.5%

$9.05M

Total

5.4%

$155.23M

Rank #5

India (IND)

Total

0.9%

Exports

0.0%

$103.37K

Imports

1.4%

$26.63M

Total

0.9%

$26.73M

Rank #6

Japan (JPN)

Total

0.7%

Exports

0.0%

Imports

1.0%

$19.42M

Total

0.7%

$19.42M

Rank #7

Germany (DEU)

Total

0.5%

Exports

0.7%

$7.28M

Imports

0.4%

$6.82M

Total

0.5%

$14.11M

Rank #8

Botswana (BWA)

Total

0.4%

Exports

0.3%

$2.78M

Imports

0.5%

$8.92M

Total

0.4%

$11.70M

Rank #9

Mozambique (MOZ)

Total

0.4%

Exports

0.0%

$406.28K

Imports

0.6%

$10.45M

Total

0.4%

$10.86M

Rank #10

Eswatini (SWZ)

Total

0.3%

Exports

0.6%

$6.53M

Imports

0.2%

$3.41M

Total

0.3%

$9.94M

Rank	Partner	Export dependency	Import dependency	Total dependency
1	South Africa (ZAF)	58.5% $587.69M	78.9% $1.48B	71.8% $2.07B
2	Belgium (BEL)	23.5% $236.41M	0.2% $3.03M	8.3% $239.44M
3	China (CHN)	0.0% $0	10.3% $193.29M	6.7% $193.29M
4	USA (USA)	14.5% $146.18M	0.5% $9.05M	5.4% $155.23M
5	India (IND)	0.0% $103.37K	1.4% $26.63M	0.9% $26.73M
6	Japan (JPN)	0.0% $0	1.0% $19.42M	0.7% $19.42M
7	Germany (DEU)	0.7% $7.28M	0.4% $6.82M	0.5% $14.11M
8	Botswana (BWA)	0.3% $2.78M	0.5% $8.92M	0.4% $11.70M
9	Mozambique (MOZ)	0.0% $406.28K	0.6% $10.45M	0.4% $10.86M
10	Eswatini (SWZ)	0.6% $6.53M	0.2% $3.41M	0.3% $9.94M

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade

In 2024, Lesotho exported $1.0B and imported $1.9B, resulting in a trade balance of -$873.8M.
Globally, Lesotho's total trade ranked #117, with exports ranked #114 and imports #118.
The top export destinations were South Africa (58.5%), Belgium (23.5%), and the United States (14.5%).
Lesotho's leading imports originated from South Africa (78.9%) and China (10.3%).
Top exported products included Natural & Precious Stones (HS2 71) valued at $236.5M, and Beverages (HS2 22) at $188.0M.

Lesotho's Exports in 2024

In 2024, Lesotho's total exports amounted to $1.0B. The country's leading export category was Natural, cultured pearls and precious stones (HS2 71), with shipments valued at $236.5M. This was followed by Beverages, spirits and vinegar (HS2 22) at $188.0M. The primary destination for Lesotho's goods was South Africa, receiving 58.5% of total exports, followed by Belgium at 23.5%.

Lesotho's Imports in 2024

Lesotho's imports in 2024 totaled $1.9B. The most significant import category was Mineral fuels and oils (HS2 27), with a value of $288.9M. The second largest import category was Machinery and mechanical appliances (HS2 84), accounting for $155.3M. The vast majority of imports, 78.9%, were sourced from South Africa, while China was the second-largest supplier with a 10.3% share.

Exports

Lesotho - exports over time (Exports), 2015-2024 (USD)

Annual reported export values across available years.

Flow: Exports | Years: 2015-2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade

Top export categories

Largest HS2 categories by export value in the selected year.

#1 • HS 71

Natural, cultured pearls; precious, semi-precious stones; precious metals, metals clad with precious metal, and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin

$236.47M

23.5% share

#2 • HS 22

Beverages, spirits and vinegar

$187.99M

18.7% share

#3 • HS 61

Apparel and clothing accessories; knitted or crocheted

$171.38M

17.1% share

#4 • HS 62

Apparel and clothing accessories; not knitted or crocheted

$132.16M

13.2% share

#5 • HS 51

Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric

$45.95M

4.6% share

#6 • HS 85

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles

$43.76M

4.4% share

#7 • HS 63

Textiles, made up articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags

$36.86M

3.7% share

#8 • HS 84

Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors; parts thereof

$31.47M

3.1% share

#9 • HS 52

Cotton

$28.43M

2.8% share

#10 • HS 11

Products of the milling industry; malt, starches, inulin, wheat gluten

$20.10M

2.0% share

#11 • HS 87

Vehicles; other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof

$13.42M

1.3% share

#12 • HS 03

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

$8.62M

0.9% share

#13 • HS 64

Footwear; gaiters and the like; parts of such articles

$8.17M

0.8% share

#14 • HS 39

Plastics and articles thereof

$5.88M

0.6% share

#15 • HS 12

Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit, industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder

$4.71M

0.5% share

Rank	Category	Value	Share
1	Natural, cultured pearls; precious, semi-precious stones; precious metals, metals clad with precious metal, and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin	$236.47M	23.5%
2	Beverages, spirits and vinegar	$187.99M	18.7%
3	Apparel and clothing accessories; knitted or crocheted	$171.38M	17.1%
4	Apparel and clothing accessories; not knitted or crocheted	$132.16M	13.2%
5	Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric	$45.95M	4.6%
6	Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles	$43.76M	4.4%
7	Textiles, made up articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags	$36.86M	3.7%
8	Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors; parts thereof	$31.47M	3.1%
9	Cotton	$28.43M	2.8%
10	Products of the milling industry; malt, starches, inulin, wheat gluten	$20.10M	2.0%
11	Vehicles; other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof	$13.42M	1.3%
12	Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates	$8.62M	0.9%
13	Footwear; gaiters and the like; parts of such articles	$8.17M	0.8%
14	Plastics and articles thereof	$5.88M	0.6%
15	Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit, industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder	$4.71M	0.5%

Labels hide HS codes by default — hover a category to reveal the code.

Lesotho - export composition by product categories (Exports), 2024 (USD)

Largest product categories by export value in the selected year.

Flow: Exports | Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade

Lesotho - export composition by 4-digit product groups (Exports), 2024 (USD)

Area reflects share within the displayed list; hover for product codes.

Flow: Exports | Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade

Imports

Lesotho - imports over time (Imports), 2015-2024 (USD)

Annual reported import values across available years.

Flow: Imports | Years: 2015-2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade

Top import categories

Largest HS2 categories by import value in the selected year.

#1 • HS 27

Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes

$288.93M

15.4% share

#2 • HS 84

Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors; parts thereof

$155.34M

8.3% share

#3 • HS 85

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles

$120.53M

6.4% share

#4 • HS 87

Vehicles; other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof

$110.52M

5.9% share

#5 • HS 60

Fabrics; knitted or crocheted

$89.69M

4.8% share

#6 • HS 10

Cereals

$65.30M

3.5% share

#7 • HS 73

Iron or steel articles

$60.68M

3.2% share

#8 • HS 11

Products of the milling industry; malt, starches, inulin, wheat gluten

$59.78M

3.2% share

#9 • HS 22

Beverages, spirits and vinegar

$51.89M

2.8% share

#10 • HS 39

Plastics and articles thereof

$48.64M

2.6% share

#11 • HS 02

Meat and edible meat offal

$47.89M

2.5% share

#12 • HS 52

Cotton

$43.61M

2.3% share

#13 • HS 30

Pharmaceutical products

$33.60M

1.8% share

#14 • HS 62

Apparel and clothing accessories; not knitted or crocheted

$28.91M

1.5% share

#15 • HS 25

Salt; sulphur; earths, stone; plastering materials, lime and cement

$28.88M

1.5% share

Rank	Category	Value	Share
1	Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes	$288.93M	15.4%
2	Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors; parts thereof	$155.34M	8.3%
3	Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles	$120.53M	6.4%
4	Vehicles; other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof	$110.52M	5.9%
5	Fabrics; knitted or crocheted	$89.69M	4.8%
6	Cereals	$65.30M	3.5%
7	Iron or steel articles	$60.68M	3.2%
8	Products of the milling industry; malt, starches, inulin, wheat gluten	$59.78M	3.2%
9	Beverages, spirits and vinegar	$51.89M	2.8%
10	Plastics and articles thereof	$48.64M	2.6%
11	Meat and edible meat offal	$47.89M	2.5%
12	Cotton	$43.61M	2.3%
13	Pharmaceutical products	$33.60M	1.8%
14	Apparel and clothing accessories; not knitted or crocheted	$28.91M	1.5%
15	Salt; sulphur; earths, stone; plastering materials, lime and cement	$28.88M	1.5%

Labels hide HS codes by default — hover a category to reveal the code.

Lesotho - import composition by product categories (Imports), 2024 (USD)

Largest product categories by import value in the selected year.

Flow: Imports | Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade

Lesotho - import composition by 4-digit product groups (Imports), 2024 (USD)

Area reflects share within the displayed list; hover for product codes.

Flow: Imports | Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade