Marine Forwarding

Country guide

Shipping between the US and Lesotho

Africa

In 2025 the United States exported $2.8 million of goods to Lesotho and imported $170.2 million from there. Lesotho ranked 212th among US export markets and 118th among sources of US imports.

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US exports, 2025
$2.8MUp 1.2% on 2024 ($2.8 million)
US imports, 2025
$170.2MDown 28.2% on 2024 ($237.2 million)
Goods balance
$167.4MUS deficit
Export market rank
212thAmong destinations of US goods
Import source rank
118thAmong sources of US imports

Top goods each way

The five largest Harmonized System chapters by value in 2025, with each chapter's share of the total.

US exports to Lesotho

Special classification provisions (chapter 98) led US exports to Lesotho at $1.0 million, 37% of the total. The top three chapters made up 62%.

  1. 98Special classification provisions$1.0 million36.9%
  2. 11Flour, malt and starches$462 thousand16.3%
  3. 19Cereal, flour and bakery products$253 thousand8.9%
  4. 85Electrical machinery and equipment$249 thousand8.8%
  5. 03Fish and seafood$204 thousand7.2%

US imports from Lesotho

Knitted apparel (chapter 61) led US imports from Lesotho at $97.9 million, 58% of the total. The top three chapters made up 95%.

  1. 61Knitted apparel$97.9 million57.5%
  2. 62Non-knitted apparel$41.0 million24.1%
  3. 71Precious stones, metals and jewelry$22.9 million13.5%
  4. 98Special classification provisions$4.8 million2.8%
  5. 85Electrical machinery and equipment$1.8 million1.1%

Trade terms

The United States has no free trade agreement in force with Lesotho, according to the US Trade Representative. Check the duty rate for your goods before you ship.

The International Trade Administration covers the import rules and documents Lesotho requires in its Country Commercial Guide.

Through Norfolk-Newport News

The Census Bureau records trade by the US port it passes through. These are its 2025 figures for Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia, for trade with Lesotho.

Exports through the port, 2025
$679K24.0% of the US total with Lesotho
Leading export goods
Special classification provisionsHS chapter 98, $679 thousand
Imports through the port, 2025
$129K0.1% of the US total with Lesotho
Leading import goods
Knitted apparelHS chapter 61, $129 thousand

Trade through Norfolk-Newport News

Getting cargo to Lesotho

Lesotho is landlocked. Ocean cargo for Lesotho discharges at a seaport in a neighboring country and moves on by road or rail.

Sources

  • US trade figures: US Census Bureau, International Trade API, HS2 total exports and general imports for calendar 2024 and 2025, retrieved November 4, 2026.
  • Trade agreements: Office of the US Trade Representative, free trade agreements, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Import requirements: International Trade Administration, Country Commercial Guides, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Map: Natural Earth 1:110m land, public domain.