Regarding the 2024 vehicle import, 2023 will be the oldest model to be issued an import permit for non-commercial vehicles under Section 13 (B) of the Export and Import Law, according to Notification No 80/2023 of the Commerce Ministry.
For non-commercial vehicles, the model year must be 2023 or later. Public service vehicles such as mini-buses, city buses, express buses, and commercial trucks manufactured in 2020 and later can be imported. Moreover, fire engines and ambulances manufactured in 2014 or later are allowed for import. The oldest model of machinery is set for 2014.
Except for machinery, all import vehicles must be left-hand drive under the 2024 vehicle import policy.
Heavy equipment that cannot be driven on public roads such as excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders, vibratory rollers, clamp loaders, motor graders, road roller compactors, bridge cranes, gantry cranes, tower cranes, pilling machines, crawler drill/cranes, overhead travelling cranes, mobile cranes, rough-terrain cranes, forklifts, boom lifts, and asphalt finishers are allowed to be brought into the country as long as they are 15 years old or less.
The ministry issues the specified model year for vehicle importation. The existing automobile import policies are not modified, the notification stated.
The Agribusiness and Trade Division under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation stated that Myanmar brought in more than 6,400 vehicles including 1,400 non-commercial vehicles over the past seven months in the current financial year 2023-2024 beginning 1 April.
The ministry’s report showed that 1,418 non-commercial passenger vehicles worth US$31.14 million, 54 buses worth $1.04 million, 855 trucks worth $13.07 million, and 4,095 heavy machinery worth $132.38 million between 1 April and 3 November this FY.
Moreover, the import value of auto parts was estimated at $35.12 million then. Therefore, vehicle and automobile imports swelled to $215.75 million over the past seven months. — NN/ EM
