Muse border trade down by 24% as of 10 Sept

Muse border trade sank 24.3 per cent over the past eleven months in the current financial year 2020-2021 as against last year, the Ministry of Commerce’s data showed.
As the COVID-19 infections are spiking in Myanmar, trade through Myanmar’s major border area Muse completely stopped, along with other border posts between Myanmar and China from 8 July.
The value of trade between Myanmar and China via the Muse land border touched a low of US$3.5 billion between 1 October and 10 September in the current financial year 2020-2021 amid the political developments and the COVID-19 surge. The figures plummeted from $4.7 billion recorded in the year-ago period, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
As of 23 July 2021, Myanmar’s exports to China through the Muse land border were valued at $2.4 billion, while imports are worth $1.1 billion. The trade showed a slump in both exports and imports.
On 30 March, Man Wein, which is a major border crossing between Muse and Kyalgaung areas, was suspended owing to the COVID-19 cases. The traders have to send the goods, including rice and broken rice, various pulses and beans, fishery products, onion, chilli and other export items to China via the Kyinsankyawt checkpoint owing to the closure of the Man Wein checkpoint.
Following up the COVID-19 detection of the staff from Muse 105th-mile trade zone, China closed down all the border posts. Wamting, Kyinsankyawt and Pangsai (Kyukok) border posts came to an abrupt halt on 8 July.
In a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus on the border, China banned border crossing, causing the price hike for the agricultural input, cement and medical devices.
Earlier, China practised a driver substitution programme and those drivers were tested every three days.
Myanmar exports agricultural products, including rice, beans and corns, and fishery products such as crab, prawn, etc. Furthermore, Myanmar’s natural gas export to China is also conducted through the Muse-Ruili border. The raw CMP materials, electrical appliances and consumer goods are imported into the country. — KK/GNLM