Myanmar’s cross-border trade sees tremendous export in nine months

The value of Myanmar’s exports to the neighbouring countries through border trade showed a significant increase of US$735.6 million in the nine months (April-December) of the current Financial Year 2022-2023 compared with that in the corresponding period of 2021.
The export through border trade reached over $4 billion during the April-December period which soared from $3.66 billion in the year-ago period, the Ministry of Commerce’s statistics indicated.
Myanmar’s border trade totalled $6.044 billion this FY. Usually, Myanmar’s exports outperformed imports in border trade, with export worth $4.4 billion and imports valued 1.643 million.
Smooth transport plays a crucial role in trade. Transport barriers and traffic problems can hinder freight forwarding, and degrade the quality and weight on price. The departments concerned are prioritizing the smooth freight flow. The officials of the border posts are tackling difficulties and trading requirements for the supply chain including growers, traders and chambers associations to bolster the exports. The authorities are keeping in touch with the traders for trade facilitation and trade promotion. Those efforts in border trade are contributing to the revenue of the State, the Ministry of Commerce stated.
Myanmar has opened 17 border posts between Myanmar and the neighbouring countries; with China through Muse, Lweje, Chinshwehaw, Kampaiti and Kengtung, with Thailand through Myawady, Kawthoung, Myeik, Hteekhee, Tachilek, Mawtaung and Meisei, with Bangladesh through Sittway and Maungtaw, with Laos through Kenglek and with India through Tamu and Reed.
Of the Sino-Myanmar border posts, the Kengtung crossing showed a small decline. Moreover, Myawady, Kawthoung and Mawtaung posts with Thailand also registered a drop while the trade with India via Reed fell sharply. The border trade with Bangladesh through Sittway plunged as well, the trade data indicated.
The values of border trade stood at over $1.643 billion at Muse, $99.69 million at Lweje, $189.8 million at Chinshwehaw, $61.185 million at Kampaiti, $8.54 million at Kengtung, $113.4 million at Tachilek, $1.584 billion at Myawady, $162 million at Kawthoung, $92 million at Myeik, $1.956 billion at Hteekhee, $9.68 million at Mawtaung, $100.58 million at Sittway, $11.788 million at Maungtaw, $12.58 million at Tamu. There is no trading record at Reed, Meisei and Kenglek border posts in the past nine months.
Myanmar primarily exports rice, various types of beans, sesame seeds, corn, fruits and vegetables, dried tea leaves, fishery products, natural gas, rubber, gem, animal products and spice to the neighbouring countries, while it imports capital goods such as machinery and motorbikes, raw industrial goods such as CMP raw materials, cement and fertilizers, and consumer goods such as cosmetics, edible vegetable oil and food products. —KK