บรรยากาศลานขนถ่ายสินค้า สะพานมิตรภาพ แห่งที่ 1 ที่เวียงจันทน์ ประเทศลาว Published caption Lao PDR's export market may be under threat by continued political turmoil in Thailand, an economist warned, according to a report in the state-run Vientiane Times. “Thailand is not only our major trading partner but also our transit point for exports. We cannot avoid an impact if the political turmoil there worsens,” China's Xinhua news agency quoted senior economist Mana Southichack as telling the paper. Lao exporters are becoming increasingly concerned about the future of exports for the country. A report by the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment put the country’s export value this year at US$2.1 billion, with a large proportion of those goods destined to travel to Thailand or though Thai ports to consumers overseas.