Monthly Archives: February 2021

The border trade between Myanmar and Thailand hit US$998 million as of 22 January in the current financial year 2020-2021 ending September, said a statistical report of Myanmar’s Ministry of Commerce. During this period, the border trade value dropped by $238 million compared to that of the same period of the previous FY. The bilateral border trade was $1.2 billion in the last year. The Myanmar-Thai total border trade was shared by Myanmar’s export of $675 million and its import of $322 million.

Between 2016-2017FY and 2019-2020 (as of August), Thailand has been Myanmar’s largest trade partner among the ASEAN states, followed by Singapore and Malaysia. Myanmar is carrying out border trade with Thailand’s neighbouring country through seven border checkpoints — Tachilek, Myawady, Myeik, Mawtaung, Hteekhee, Kawthoung and Maese border areas respectively. Among them, Hteekhee completed the most extensive trade in border trade with Thailand, followed by Myawady. Myanmar primarily exports natural gas, fishery products, coal, tin concentrate, coconut (fresh and dry), beans, corns, bamboo shoots, sesame seeds, garment, 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. The bilateral trade between Myanmar and Thailand stood at $659 million in FY2020-2021 (as of November), $5.1 billion in FY2019-2020, $5.5 billion in FY2018-2019, $2.9 billion in the mini-budget year of 2018 or transitional period from April to September this year, $5 billion in FY2017-2018, $4.3 billion in the 2016-2017FY, $4.8 billion in the 2015-2016FY, $5.7 billion in the 2014-2015FY, $5.6 billion in the 2013-2014FY, $4.7 billion in the 2012-2013FY, and $4.5 billion in the 2011-2012FY, according to the Myanmar Ministry of Commerce.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

THE total border value reached over US$3.02 billion in the first four months of the current financial year 2020-2021, a decrease over $644 million, according to the Ministry of Commerce. As of 22 January, the country’s export via land borders amounted to $2 billion while its import shared $1.01 billion.

This FY’s border trade dropped by over $644 million, compared to the same period of last FY when it amounted to $3.7 billion, stated the ministry’s figures. Myanmar has opened 18 border trade camps and conducts border trade with neighbouring China through Muse, Lwejel, Kampaiti, Chinshwehaw and Kengtung with Thailand via Tachilek, Myawady, Kawthaung, Myeik, Hteekhee, Mawtaung and Maese, with Bangladesh via Sittway and Maungtaw and with India through Tamu and Reed border checkpoints respectively.

Muse topped the land borders’ list with the most trade value of $1.5 billion, followed by Hteekhee with $421 million and Myawady with $337 million. Myanmar mainly exports agricultural products, animal products, marine products, minerals, forest products, manufactured goods and other commodities while capital goods, intermediate goods and consumer goods are imported to the country.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar-China trade is being coordinated with the relevant district governors and township administrators in accordance with the terms of the COVID-19 period to ensure that trade in the Muse 105-mile trade zone, which is the main trade route between Myanmar and China. Myanmar-China trade gates have been reopened. During the current COVID-19 period, people are working in accordance with the terms of the COVID-19 period to ensure that trade between Myanmar and China is not delayed, and they are working to ensure that trade is not suspended in coordination with the relevant district administrators and township administrations, said by the director of the Muse 105-mile border trade zone.

The state of emergency was declared on Myawaddy TV at around 8 am on February 1 by Order No. 1/2021, as enforced by the President’s Office. In Muse, the entrance and exit of the town was opened at 10 am on February 2, and the entry and exit of trucks at the Man-Won-Kyin-San-Kyaw checkpoint at the Burma-China border checkpoint was reopened at 10:30 am and started at 10:37 am. During the COVID-19 epidemic, the two countries worked to speed up trade, but China has tightened controls on export vehicles in accordance with Chinese regulations. Trade was delayed due to spraying and driver replacements, and more than half of all truck arrivals fell.

During the COVID-19 period, when Myanmar exported to China, according to Chinese regulations, people sprayed their export vehicles. Then the drivers have to change the time. Then there is the influx of vehicles, which reduces the number of vehicles. In the past, at least 400 vehicles were allowed to enter the area. Now they have 150; only about 200 were allowed to enter. The number of trucks entering China has decreased. Even so, owning one is still beyond the reach of the average person. The number of cars exported to Mandalay from my trade zone car park increased by at least 600 every day. There are about 700. There are about 300 fruit trucks and about 300 other products. All fruit trucks are imported through Kyin San Kyaw Gate and the remaining 300 items are shipped through Man Wan Gate, so too Manwon Gate.

China’s slow export of goods in the 105-mile trade zone on the Muse border, which accounted for 97 percent of the trade in the 2019-2020 fiscal year, with more than $ 4.8 million in trade and 98 percent in the 2020-2021 fiscal year, with more than $ 400 million in trade. People get about 15 million a day. But last January, it was estimated at 470 million, about 460 million. About 97%. This is not because of Myanmar’s export weakness. In fact, if Myanmar could export as before, people would be able to export more than 100 percent. China’s acceptance power. Myanmar driver does not change. If Myanmar drivers can enter China, more export cars can enter. Negotiations have been held with Chinese officials at the national, ministry and regional levels not to change drivers. The Chinese side said that the above steps have been submitted. 

If Myanmar drivers are allowed to enter China directly only with a certificate of COVID-19 clearance, this traffic congestion period can be overcome, said by the director of the Muse 105-mile border trade zone. Myanmar officials want to boost Myanmar’s export sector. The two sides also discussed ways to boost exports to boost bilateral trade for the benefit of Myanmar farmers and to increase bilateral trade. Coordination will be made to improve connectivity, according to the Muse 105-mile border trade zone. There are about 1,000 trucks carrying imported goods in the 105-mile trade zone, and about 2,000 trucks and six-wheelers are waiting in line at the exit of the 105-mile trade zone in Muse on the Burma-China border. At present, the Muse 105-mile border trade zone provides rice, watermelon, cucumbers, agricultural products, including plums and cotton and fishery products. It mainly exports minerals and mineral resources, as well as oil and gas, consumer goods, food products, vehicles and accessories, clothing and apparel, imports of telecommunications equipment.

Source: Daily Eleven

The sesame market is sluggish as Chinese New Year is approaching, and some buyers stop buying. Yet, the price is stable, traders from Mandalay market said. The market of edible oil crop has been slow-moving from the previous week as the Chinese New Year festival is drawing nearer. It is normal that the market faces slow-down during that time, said by the general secretary of Monywa Commodity depot. At present, the black sesame price dips to K50,000 from K55,000-56,000 per basket, the depot stated. The prices of white and brown sesame varieties remain stable on the back of domestic demand. At the same time, there is low demand by foreign market. The price of black sesame seeds (Samone variety) shows downtick.

On 4 February, the FOB prices of sesame stood at US$2,000-2,100 per tonne of Samone sesame, $1,250-1,300 per tonne of white sesame and $1,150-1,200 per tonne of brown sesame. Last year, the sesame prices drop by over 20 per cent compared with the prices in the previous years due to the COVID-19 negative impacts. Consequently, the growers do not make large profit this year, a trader from Mandalay market stressed. Normally, Myanmar exports about 80 per cent of sesame production to foreign markets. China is the main buyer of Myanmar sesame, which is also shipped to markets in Japan, South Korea, China (Taipei), UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, and Poland among the EU countries.

The EU markets prefer organic-farming sesame seeds from Myanmar, said an official from the Trade Promotion Department. Japan prefers Myanmar black sesame seeds, cultivated under good agricultural practices (GAP), and purchases them after a quality assessment. Black sesame seeds from Myanmar are also exported to South Korea and Japan. Meanwhile, China purchases various coloured sesame seeds from the country. This year, Japan has not purchased Myanmar’s sesame yet. Sesame is cultivated in the country throughout the year. Magway Region, which has gained a reputation as the oil pot of Myanmar, is the main producer of sesame seeds.

The seeds are also grown in Mandalay and Sagaing regions. Of the cooking oil crops grown in Myanmar, the acreage under sesame is the highest, accounting for 51.3 per cent of the overall oil crop plantation. The volume of sesame exports has registered at over 96,000 tonnes, worth $130 million, in the financial year 2015-2016; $100,000 tonnes, worth $145 million, in the 2016-2017FY; 120,000 tonnes, worth $147 million, in the 2017-2018FY; 33,900 tonnes valued $43.8 million in the 2018 mini-budget period, 125,800 tonnes, worth $212.5 million in the 2018-2019FY and over 150,000 tonnes of sesame, worth $240 million in the previous 2019-2020FY, the trade data of Central Statistical Organization indicated.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

THE Ministry of Commerce has extended import permits on the reconditioned machine for the small and medium- sized enterprises, support the establishment of the manufacturing process and reduce the capital expenditure, according to the notification released in the third week of January 2021. The Ministry of Commerce has allowed the import of used machines which are useable since 2015, according to section 13, subsection (b) of the Export and Import Law of the ministry.

The ministry issues the notification every year as per its policy, intending to avoid unnecessary goods piled up and environmental damage, and improving the entrepreneurs’ production capacity. Those reconditioned machines are to be remained usable up to 10 years starting from the import date. The machines shall be repaired to have the usable condition. The import requires a 10-year warranty by foreign sellers. Moreover, the machine parts and accessories of those imported machines shall be easily purchased in the domestic market.

The reshipment inspection certificate with six-month validity is also required to ensure the running condition of those machines, as per the notification. Nevertheless, the permit does not cover home appliances such as refrigerator, air-conditioner, washing machines, copier, printers, televisions, computers and office machines. Those machines which are designated for commercial sales are also not included. The notification comes into effect within 60 days of the issue date (20 January 2021). Those reconditioned machines can be imported only via maritime trade.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar