THE bilateral trade with neighbouring Thailand, Myanmar’s major trading partner among ASEAN, amounted to US$2.38 billion in the past five months (April-August) of the current financial year 2023-2024 by sea and at the border, the Ministry of Commerce’s statistics indicated.

The ministry’s statistics showed that exports surpassed imports in trade with Thailand, with exports worth over $1.598 billion and imports valued at over $785 million.

Thailand has been Myanmar’s largest trade partner among the regional countries, followed by Singapore and Malaysia.

Exports of natural gas from the Taninthayi Region contributed to the enormous increase in border trade with Thailand in the previous years. Last year, corn exports to Thailand also rose significantly, the Ministry of Commerce stated.

Myanmar exports natural gas, fishery products, coal, coconut (fresh and dry), beans, corn, bamboo shoots, sesame seeds, garments, footwear, plywood and veneer, broken rice and other commodities to Thailand. It imports capital goods such as machinery, raw industrial goods such as cement and fertilizers, and consumer goods such as cosmetics, edible vegetable oil and food products from the neighbouring country.

Myanmar is carrying out border trade with the neighbouring country Thailand through the Tachilek, Myawady, Myeik, Mawtaung, Hteekhee, Kawthoung and Maese land borders respectively.

Apart from its main trade partner China, Myanmar’s external trade was mostly carried out with the regional trade partners.

KK

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