ID2025-0026 – Published on June 18, 2025
On May 8-9, 2025, FAS Jakarta and U.S. Embassy Dili led the first agricultural trade delegation of U.S. industry groups in Timor-Leste. The delegation met with senior government officials, importers, and private industry to explore opportunities for U.S. commodities. After fruitful B2B discussions, the industry group representatives anticipate a combined export potential of $22.7 million annually in the short term, with U.S. poultry exports projected to reach a record $20 million in 2025. Even higher projections are anticipated once Timor-Leste ascends to ASEAN later this year as it gains more favorable market access to ASEAN’s 10 other member states. Timor-Leste is considering launching food processing and agribusinesses in the area designated for an industrial park near its new deepwater port, which could also provide opportunities for U.S. ingredient exports. In 2024, the United States accounted for around 4 percent of Timor-Leste’s $300 million imports of agricultural and related products.