Market research

Wood fuel market in Laos

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the wood fuel market in Laos saw initial growth followed by stability. Government efforts to promote local products through events like the ODOP Lao carnival and plans for a model wood processing plant in 2018 laid groundwork for the sector. Market volume then increased to 6 825 thousand m³ in 2019, supported by the FLEGT program which enhanced legal timber trade and attracted investment. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 affected supply chains, contributing to a slight market adjustment to 6 787 thousand m³.

A sharp contraction occurred in 2021 as market volume fell to 5 871 thousand m³. This drop coincided with Laos's large-scale imports of conventional fuel, which raised logistics and energy costs for wood fuel operations. A strong recovery followed in 2022, with volume surging to 7 716 thousand m³ driven by the strengthened FLEGT program that facilitated legal timber imports and boosted local wood product promotion. The market then eased to 7 245 thousand m³ in 2023 amid broader macroeconomic stabilization and measures to accelerate energy imports.

In 2024, wood fuel imports reached 1 947 thousand m³. Ongoing factors such as exchange rate stability, controlled inflation, and plans to expand electrical substation infrastructure continued to shape the operating environment for wood fuel production and trade.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Laos
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Laos in kind, 2018-2023, K m³
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Laos in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K m³
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K m³
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, K m³
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Laos in kind, 2018-2024, K m³
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Laos by countries, 2018-2024, K m³
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Laos in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Laos by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/m³
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Laos, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Laos by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, K m³
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Laos in kind, 2018-2024, K m³
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Laos by countries, 2018-2024, K m³
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Laos in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Laos by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/m³
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Laos, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Laos by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, K m³
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Laos in kind, 2018-2024, K m³
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Laos by countries, 2018-2024, K m³
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Laos in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Laos by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/m³
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Laos, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Laos by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, K m³
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Laos in kind, 2018-2024, K m³
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Laos by countries, 2018-2024, K m³
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Laos in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Laos by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/m³
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Laos, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Laos by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K m³
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K m³
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production wood fuel in Laos

In kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Top producers of wood fuel, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of wood fuel, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Laos experienced a decline in wood fuel production for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 5 695 K m³ of wood fuel, marking a slight year-over-year decrease of 0.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Laos in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.7%)	(0.7%)	(0.6%)	(0.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports wood fuel from Laos

Exports in kind, K m³

Laos's wood fuel exports grew for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country exported 114 K m³ of wood fuel, representing a 14.3% increase compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports surged by 883.8%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 114.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Laos in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	42.5%	503.9%	14.3%	114.3%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea were the largest buyers of wood fuel from Laos, accounting for 29.2%, 28.0%, and 17.4% of exports in kind, respectively. Together, these three countries made up 74.6% of Laos's total wood fuel exports in kind.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Laos in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

After two years of growth, Laos's wood fuel export volumes declined. In 2020, the country exported 5 188 K $ US worth of wood fuel, which was 16.6% lower than the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports increased by 51.7%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.9%. The peak value was recorded in 2019 at 6 217 K $ US, with the largest annual increase of 36.9% also occurring that year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Laos in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	32.8%	36.9%	(16.6%)	14.9%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam remained the top buyers of wood fuel from Laos in value terms, with shares of 32.2%, 27.1%, and 15.5%, respectively. Collectively, these three countries accounted for 74.9% of Laos's total wood fuel exports in value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Laos in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports wood fuel to Laos

Imports in kind, K m³

Laos's wood fuel imports rose for the third consecutive year. In 2020, import volumes reached 1 206 K m³, a modest increase of 1.1% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 375 040.4%, equating to an annualized rate of 1 453.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Laos in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	128 253.5%	189.2%	1.1%	1 453.8%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Vietnam and Thailand were the dominant suppliers of wood fuel to Laos, together accounting for 100.0% of total imports in kind.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Laos in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Laos's cross-border shipments of wood fuel increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country imported approximately 57 792 K $ US of wood fuel, reflecting a strong year-over-year advance of 16.4%. Between 2017 and 2020, imports surged by 65 547.1%, with an annualized growth rate of 769.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Laos in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	47 384.7%	18.8%	16.4%	769.1%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Vietnam and Thailand clearly dominated Laos's wood fuel imports in value terms, with a combined share of 96.5% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Laos in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io