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Import to Lesotho
Lesotho, a country within a country, is uniquely located in the heart of South Africa. Importing into Lesotho presents challenges, including its mountainous terrain and security challenges, requiring thoughtful planning and careful attention.
Tax
up to 14%
Duties
up to 20%
Lead Times
3-4 weeks
Restricted Items
Second-Hand Goods
Best Carrier Option
Courier or Freight Forwarder
Non-Working Days
Saturday, Sunday, and Public Holidays
Prominent Language
Sesotho and English
Navigating Trade in Lesotho
Lesotho is part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional economic bloc comprising 16 Member States: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. As part of the SADC, Lesotho benefits from regional trade, boosting its economy overall.
The country also belongs to the South African Customs Union (SACU), which eliminates the tariffs between its five member states. This promotes seamless trade and economic integration. However, low competition and a poor economic landscape have contributed to Lesotho having one of the lowest broadband penetration rates in the region, making it difficult to navigate and grow tech-related trade.
The government is making a direct effort to address various developmental challenges. Some key initiatives include the Lesotho Academy of Science and Technology, which aims to enhance local skills and expertise. There has also been a government-led drive to encourage foreign and local investment in the Basotho ICT market, increasing the economy’s competitiveness.
Population
2.4M
Biggest Industry by Export
Diamonds
Capital City
Maseru
Biggest Industry by Import
Refined Petroleum
Unique Pain Points for Imports to Lesotho
Tariffs
Tariffs, particularly those imposed by the United States, have also become a growing concern for Lesotho. This has primarily affected the textile industry, negatively impacting the economy and creating a greater sense of trade uncertainty.
Logistical Challenges
Lesotho’s geography presents unique logistical challenges. Being landlocked and surrounded by South Africa, all imports must pass through South African ports, a process known as transshipping. This dependence on neighboring infrastructure increases transport costs and extends delivery times.
Infrastructure
The country lacks adequate physical infrastructure, which makes navigating imports inland challenging. The limited and poorly maintained road networks lead to further delays and added costs in the import process.
Countries Associated with Lesotho
North America
United States of America (USA)
Europe
Belgium
Specialized Solution for Lesotho
This small country has managed to maintain a local ICT industry, producing some exciting IT applications. However, tech development has been slow compared to other Southern African countries. By leveraging TecEx’s expertise and in-depth local knowledge of Lesotho, you can minimize compliance risks, avoid costly delays, and ensure the smooth, efficient entry of your goods into the country. Our IOR and EOR services allow us to handle all the complexities of cross-border trade.
Our Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) solution provides seamless access to the Lesotho market. This solution means that we take on all the risk and responsibility of your shipment. We obtain the correct HS code classification, apply for the necessary permits and licenses, and facilitate customs clearance.
Specific Compliance Regulations
ITAC Permit
When importing into Lesotho, an ITAC permit, issued by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa, must be obtained. This is necessary for certain goods, particularly second-hand and controlled goods. Applications for this permit require various supporting documents to ensure the shipment complies with the trade regulations.
Lesotho Communication Authority
To import telecommunication equipment, approval from the Lesotho Radio Communication Authority (LCA) is required. TecEx will gather all the correct documents and ensure conformity to get this approval for imports to Lesotho.
Documentations
Various other documents are needed for imports into Lesotho. This includes gathering a Commercial Invoice, Bill of Lading, Packing List, and Certificate of Origin. TecEx has years of experience gathering all of these and will compile all the necessary documents on your behalf to successfully get your goods into Lesotho.
Your Global Trade Solution For Lesotho
Fill in the form to get in touch, and one of our trade experts will contact you with a tailored solution for imports to Lesotho.
