Hteekhee border trade falls by $738.57 mln in 2020-2021FY

Bilateral trade between Thailand and Myanmar through the Hteekhee border over the past eleven and half months reflected a decrease of $738.57 million as against a year-ago period.
Between 1 October and 17 September in the current financial year 2020-2021, the figures sharply fell to US$1.29 billion from $2 billion registered in the previous financial year, according to data from the Commerce Ministry.  The surge in coronavirus cases in Myanmar led Thailand to limit the working hours of truck drivers at the border posts. Consequently, the trade via land borders between Myanmar and Thailand sharply fell in the current FY.
Exports of natural gas from the Taninthayi Region have contributed to the enormous increase in trade through the Hteekhee border during the previous years, the Ministry of Commerce stated.  The border trade between Myanmar and Thailand through the border areas: Myeik, Kawthoung, Mawtaung, Hteekhee and Meisei posts declined as of 17 September, whereas trade via Tachilek and Myawady posts rose due to the corn exports.
Myanmar primarily exports natural gas, fishery products, coal, tin concentrate (SN 71.58 per cent), coconut (fresh and dry), beans, corns and bamboo shoots to Thailand. It imports capital goods such as machinery, raw industrial goods such as cement and fertilizers, and consumer goods such as cosmetics and food products from the neighbouring country. — KK/GNLM