12 January
THE value of border trade between Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand totalled US$937.4 million in the first quarter of the 2018-2019 Financial Year, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce.
During the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year, the value of bilateral border trade was pegged at $376 million. Between 1 October and 28 December 2018, Myanmar’s exports to Thailand were valued at $700 million, while imports were estimated at $237 million.
The Tachilek, Myawady and Kawthoung gates witnessed a small decrease in trade. Meanwhile, trade at the Hteekhee border gate picked up dramatically, boosting the total trade figure. Normally, the Myawady gate sees the largest trade among the Myanmar-Thailand checkpoints.
The value of trade stood at $588.49 million at Hteekhee, $209.39 million at Myawady, $60.64 million at Myeik, $56.72 million at Kawthoung, $15.8 million at Tachilek, $5.89 million at Mawtaung, and $0.45 million at Maese.
Myanmar primarily exports fishery products such as crab, fish, and shrimp, as well as onions, sesame, dry tea leaves, coconut, and turmeric to Thailand. It imports capital goods such as machinery, raw industrial goods such as cement and fertilizers, consumer goods such as cosmetics, and food products. —Ko Htet (Translated by Ei Myat Mon)
