Timber markets and trade between Laos and Vietnam: A commodity chain analysis of Vietnamese driven timber flow

This study examines the timber trade between Laos and Vietnam, exploring power and political dynamics of the trade between the two countries. The study has adopted a commodity chain framework to identify the actors participating at each node of the chain, as timber passes from Lao’s natural forests to wood processing/furniture producing companies in Vietnam. Of particular interest is the pattern of benefit distribution among involved actors and mechanisms adopted by them for benefit derivation.