Laos

In 2024, Laos was estimated to be the fourth-ranked producer of refined bismuth, accounting for 3.0% of global production, and the sixth-ranked producer of potash, accounting for 5.1% of global production. Other mineral commodities produced in the country included antimony, barite, cement, clays, copper, gold, gypsum, iron ore, lead, salt, sand and gravel, sapphire, silicon, silver, steel products, stone, tellurium, and tin. The mining and quarrying sector accounted for 2.8% of gross domestic product in 2024, compared with 3.3% in 2023. In 2023, the latest year for which data were available, Laos exported refined bismuth and articles thereof to China and the United States. 

The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Laos is provided by the Law on Minerals of 2008, last amended in 2017. The Ministry of Energy and Mines oversees the mineral sector and manages extraction activities, mineral processing, and the trade of mineral commodities. Most mineral commodities were produced by private international companies. As of yearend 2024, production was idled at the sole bismuth refinery in Laos, operated by 5N Plus Lao Industrial Resources Co. Ltd. The Government sought to promote potash production in Laos following the launch of the Laos-China Railway, and granted exploration, mining, and processing rights to 18 companies in the country.  

2024 Report

Full data release with tables here.

In 2024, Laos was estimated to be the fourth-ranked producer of refined bismuth, accounting for 3.0% of global production, and the sixth-ranked producer of potash, accounting for 5.1% of global production. Other mineral commodities produced in the country included antimony, barite, cement, clays, copper, gold, gypsum, iron ore, lead, salt, sand and gravel, sapphire, silicon, silver, steel products, stone, tellurium, and tin. Data on mineral production are in the Production table (formerly table 1). The mining and quarrying sector accounted for 2.8% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, compared with 3.3% in 2023. In 2023, the latest year for which data were available, Laos exported refined bismuth and articles thereof to China and the United States (Bank of the Lao P.D.R., 2025, p. 29; Trade Data Monitor, 2025; Jasinski, 2026; Klochko, 2026). 

The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Laos is provided by the Law on Minerals of 2008, last amended in 2017. The Ministry of Energy and Mines oversees the mineral sector and manages extraction activities, mineral processing, and the trade of mineral commodities. Most mineral commodities were produced by private international companies. The Facilities table (formerly table 2) is a list of major mineral industry facilities. More-extensive coverage of Government policies and programs can be found in previous editions of this chapter in the U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook, volume III, Area Reports—International—Asia and the Pacific, which are available at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/asia-… (Department of Mines, 2022, p. 2; Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 2017, p. 1). 

Commodity Review

Bismuth.—In 2023, the latest year for which data were fully available, Laos exported 54 metric tons (t) of refined bismuth and articles thereof to China and 18 t to the United States. Laos was thought to be sourcing its raw material for refined bismuth from the Nui Phao mine in Vietnam. As of yearend 2024, bismuth production was suspended at the refinery in Dongphonehae, which was owned by 5N Plus Shangyu Co., Ltd. of China but was operated by 5N Plus Lao Industrial Resources Co., Ltd., a Laotian subsidiary of 5N Plus Inc. of Canada. The reasons for the suspended production were unknown (Deady et al., 2022; 5N Plus Inc., 2025, p. 10; Trade Data Monitor, 2025). 

Potash.—In 2024, Laos produced 1.70 million metric tons (Mt) of potash, compared to 2.01 Mt in 2023. The Government sought to position the country as a major potash supplier for Asia by using the Laos-China Railway, which was launched in December 2021. The Government also granted exploration, mining, and processing rights to 18 companies in regions including Vientiane, Khammouane, and Savannakhet Provinces, which were known as regions with large potash deposits (Production table; Lao News Agency, 2024; Visapra, 2024). 

Production table

(Metric tons, gross weight, unless otherwise specified)

References Cited 

• 5N Plus Inc., 2025, 2024 Annual information form: Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada, 5N Plus Inc., February 25, 22 p. (Accessed December 15, 2025, at https://www.5nplus.com/media/uploads/documents/b2025-02-25_5n_plus_inc….) 

• Bank of the Lao P.D.R., 2025, Annual economic report 2024: Vientiane, Laos, Bank of the Lao P.D.R., June 20, 46 p. (Accessed December 15, 2025, at https://www.bol.gov.la/en/fileupload/20-06-2025_1750414260.pdf.) 

• Deady, Eimear, Moon, Charlie, Moore, Kathryn, Goodenough, K.M., and Shail, R.K., 2022, Bismuth—Economic geology and value chains: Ore Geology Reviews, v. 143, April, 104722. (Accessed March 31, 2026, at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169136822000300.) 

• Department of Mines, 2022, Mining activities in Lao PDR: Vientiane, Laos, Ministry of Energy and Mines, November, 13 p. (Accessed December 15, 2025, at https://www.dmr.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Mining-Activities-in-L….) 

• Jasinski, S.M., 2026, Potash: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 146–147. 

• Klochko, Kateryna, 2026, Bismuth: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 54–55. 

• Lao News Agency, 2024, Laos positioned as world’s third-largest potash fertilizer producer: Lao News Agency [Vientiane, Laos], November 6. (Accessed December 15, 2025, at https://kpl.gov.la/En/detail.aspx?id=87158.) 

• Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 2017, Decree of the President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on the promulgation of the law on minerals (revised version): Vientiane, Laos, Lao National Assembly No. 063/NA, November 3, 53 p. (Accessed October 29, 2024, at https://www.laotradeportal.gov.la/upload/files/Legal_1598256635.pdf.) 

• Trade Data Monitor, 2025, Trade Data Monitor: Geneva, Switzerland, Trade Data Monitor. (Accessed December 15, 2025, via https://www.tdmlogin.com/.) 

• Visapra, Phontham, 2024, Laos eyes role as Asia’s potash powerhouse with rail exports to China: Vientiane, Laos, The Laotian Times [Vientiane, Laos], November 5. (Accessed December 15, 2025, at https://laotiantimes.com/2024/11/05/laos-eyes-role-as-asias-potash-powe….)