Green forest fire notification in Laos

Laos Wildfire Supply-chain Risk Briefing

1) Summary Wildfires occurred in Laos from March 26 to April 9, lasting approximately 2 weeks, and are currently classified as medium-level risk. These wildfires, which occurred during the dry season, may have impacted agricultural and forestry areas within Laos.

2) Supply-chain impact

• Agricultural products supply: As Laos is a major producer of agricultural products such as rice, corn, and cassava, damage to farmland from wildfires may have limited impact on the Southeast Asian food supply chain
• Timber and forest products: Concerns over damage to timber and rubber production facilities or raw material supply areas, which are major exports from Laos
• Regional logistics network: Temporary road and transportation infrastructure blockages near wildfire areas may cause minor delays in overland transport routes between Vietnam and Thailand
• Power supply: Concerns over short-term disruptions to electricity exports to neighboring countries in case of fires near Laos hydroelectric plants or transmission lines

3) Watch points

• Monitor Laos government announcements on damage scale and specific loss assessments in agriculture and forestry sectors
• Track additional wildfire occurrences before the rainy season begins (May-June) and drought conditions in the Mekong River basin
• Monitor changes in trade volumes with neighboring countries such as Vietnam and Thailand, and trends in securing alternative supply sources