New Regulations on Timber Export from Laos: What Can Be Sold and What Cannot? Explained Clearly

木材出口老挝新规：哪些能卖，哪些不能卖？一文说清

ກົດລະບຽບໃໝ່ກ່ຽວກັບການສົ່ງອອກໄມ້ຂອງລາວ: ອັນໃດຂາຍໄດ້, ອັນໃດຂາຍບໍ່ໄດ້? ອະທິບາຍໃຫ້ຊັດເຈນ

Published: 2026-09-07 · LaoPaniti legal guides

Friends in the timber business in Laos, have you recently been confused by various export regulations? Don't worry, today we will discuss the Decision No. 4912 issued by the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on December 7, 2023, on the Determination of the List of Timber, Rattan, and Bamboo Products for Export, to help you clarify which timber can be exported, which cannot, and what to pay attention to.

1. Natural Wood Products: Divided into Three Categories, Must Be Processed Before Export

This Decision divides natural wood products into three categories: Category I, Category II, and Category III timber. However, regardless of the category, they must all be processed before export, such as drying, cutting, carving, drilling, splicing, polishing, etc. In simple terms, logs cannot be exported directly; they must first be processed into finished or semi-finished products such as boards, furniture components, flooring, charcoal, wood pellets, etc.

The specific list of natural wood products that can be exported includes solid wood, construction timber, wooden furniture components, wooden flooring, wooden components for vehicle manufacturing, wooden packaging materials, wooden tools, wooden furniture, laminated wood products, etc. The detailed items are listed in the Annex.

2. Semi-finished Wood Products: Category I Prohibited for Export, Categories II and III Require Secondary Processing

Special reminder here: Semi-finished products of Category I timber are prohibited from export. For semi-finished products of Categories II and III timber, they must undergo secondary processing or finishing, such as drying, cutting, shaping, sanding, splicing, and when exported, they must be as a whole or unit that cannot be easily disassembled and reassembled.

Therefore, if you have semi-finished products of Categories II and III timber and want to export them, you must first check whether these processes have been completed; otherwise, they may not clear customs.

3. Plantation Timber, Rattan and Bamboo Products: Conditional Freedom

For plantation timber, if it has been registered as a plantation or holds a plantation timber certificate, it can be exported in any form (processed or unprocessed). However, note that if it belongs to the species listed in List I, such as Siamese rosewood, Pterocarpus macrocarpus (Mai Kham Phi), Dalbergia cultrata, Siamese senna, and teak, it must be processed according to the forms and characteristics specified in the export list for natural wood products before export.

For rattan and bamboo products, only finished products can be exported, such as rattan furniture, rattan woven handicrafts, bamboo furniture, etc. (HS code 94.03 and subheading 9403.81.00). Raw rattan and raw bamboo cannot be exported; they must be processed into finished products.

4. Transition Between Old and New Regulations: Confirm Before Export

This Decision replaces the Decision No. 0851 dated September 14, 2021, on the Approval of the List of Timber Products for Export. Therefore, if you have prepared according to the old regulations, you should now promptly check against the new list. Additionally, the Decision is effective from the date of signing (December 7, 2023) and has been published in the Official Gazette of Laos.

If you are still unsure whether your products can be exported or want to understand specific processing requirements, it is recommended to directly consult the local agriculture and forestry department, or use the free AI on the LaoPaniti platform to check with professional tools.

This article is compiled by LaoPaniti LaoPaniti for reference only and does not constitute legal advice.

If you have questions about timber export, please visit https://www.123laoai.com to consult LaoPaniti AI for free, available 24/7.

FAQ

Can semi-finished products of Category I timber be exported?

No. According to Article 3 of the Decision on the Determination of the List of Timber, Rattan, and Bamboo Products for Export, semi-finished natural wood products listed in Category I are prohibited from export.

What conditions are required for exporting plantation timber?

According to Article 4 of the Decision, plantation timber that has been registered as a plantation or holds a plantation timber certificate can be exported in any form. However, specific species listed in List I (such as Siamese rosewood, teak, etc.) must be processed according to the forms specified in the export list for natural wood products before export.

Can raw rattan and raw bamboo be exported?

No. According to Article 5 of the Decision, only finished rattan and bamboo products (such as furniture, handicrafts) can be exported; raw rattan and raw bamboo are not allowed for export.

Legal basis

需要人办？相关服务在线提交 · ບໍລິການທີ່ກ່ຽວຂ້ອງ · Get it done

商业经营合规顾问

围绕经营事项梳理公司、用工、税费、合同收款、商标保护和门店合规风险，形成可跟进的服务清单。

在线提交需求 · ສົ່ງຄຳຂໍອອນລາຍ →

居民民事服务协助ຊ່ວຍບໍລິການເອກະສານພົນລະເມືອງ

协助梳理事项、材料清单、表格路径和服务点承接。