Muse border trade falls by 12% as of 23 July

Muse border trade climbed down 12 per cent nearly ten months in the current financial year 2020-2021 against the last year’s, the Ministry of Commerce’s data showed.
As the COVID-19 infections are spiking in Myanmar, trade through Myanmar’s major border area Muse has completely stopped, along with other border posts between Myanmar and China from 8 July.
The value of trade between Myanmar and China via Muse land border touched a low of US$3.54 billion between 1 October and 23 July in the current financial year 2020-2021 amid the political instability and the COVID-19 surge. The figures plummeted from $4.03 billion recorded in the year-ago period, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
As of 23 July 2021, Myanmar’s exports to China through Muse land border were valued at $2.42 billion, while imports are worth $1.12 billion. The trade showed a slump in both export and import.
On 30 March, Man Wein, which is a major border crossing between Muse and Kyalgaung areas, were suspended owing to the COVID-19 cases. The traders have to send the goods, including rice and broken rice, various pulses and beans, marine products, onion, chilli and other export items to China via 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 Pangsan (Kyukok) border posts came to an abrupt halt on 8 July.
In a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus in border, China banned border crossing, causing the price hike for the agricultural input, cement and medical devices.
Earlier, China practiced driver substitution programme and those drivers were tested every three days.
Myanmar exports agricultural products including rice, beans and corns, and marine products such as crab, prawn, etc. Furthermore, Myanmar’s natural gas export to China is also conducted through Muse-Ruili border. The raw CMP materials, electrical appliance and consumer goods are imported into the country.—KK/GNLM