June 19, 2021 – Min Myanmar

Muse border trade sharply falls by $717 mln: MoC reports

The trade value through Muse land border touched a low of US$2.7 billion between 1 October and 4 June in the current financial year2020-2021, showing a rise of $717 million as against a-year ago period, the Ministry of Commerce’s data showed. The figures jumped from $3.5 billion recorded in the corresponding period of last FY2019-2020. As of 4 June 2021, Myanmar’s exports to China through Muse land border were valued $1.75 billion, while imports are worth over $1 billion, the Ministry of Commerce’s data indicated. The cross-border trade via Muse ground to a halt after China tightened the border security and made policy changes in light of the COVID-19.

China has temporarily shut down Man Wein checkpoint, which is a major border crossing between Muse and Kyalgaung areas, from early April. Consequently, there is no trade flowing in and out of the country via Muse-Man Wein border. Furthermore, trade through Kyinsankyawt border, a major checkpoint for fruit exports, is down by 80 per cent, said traders. Suspension in border trade caused a negative impact on perishable fruits. The policy changes in China’s border exacerbated Myanmar’s exports amid the COVID-19 resurgences, said a Muse trader. Prior to the closure of Man Wein checkpoint, Myanmar daily sent about 2,000 tonnes of rice and 40,000 broken rice bags to China.

At present, Myanmar’s rice export to China through Muse land border has stalled amidst the coronavirus concerns. Moreover, the exports of seasonal fruits such as watermelon, muskmelon and mango are declining. This Man Wein post plays a pivotal role in trading between Myanmar and China. Myanmar exports rice, broken rice, onion, chili pepper, pulses and beans, food commodities and fishery products to China, whereas electrical appliance, equipment, medical device, household goods, construction materials and food products are imported in the country via Man Wein. Myanmar intended to reach trade target of over $5 billion through Muse for the last FY 2019-2020, However, only $4.86 billion worth goods were traded. Border trade values at Muse stood at $5.4 billion in the 2016-2017FY, $5.8 billion in the 2017-2018FY and $4.9 billion in the 2018-2019FY respectively, as per data of the Commerce’s Ministry.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Spikes in shipping rate pose hurdles for exporters during global pandemic

The shipping rates and the container cost are rocketing in maritime trade amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, posing the toughest hurdles for rice exporters, said U Than Oo, secretary of Bayintnaung Rice Wholesale Centre. The shipping rates and container cost dramatically surged by four to ten times higher than previous freight rates. The traders are financially not doing well with the purchase price from foreign trade partners for now. Consequently, they halt trading for a while. They cannot sell the rice at the prevailing market price, in terms of Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) and agreement.

They cannot bear the exorbitant freight rates when the ships are docked at the port. The spikes in shipping cost amid the pandemic-induced container shortage scaled down the imports as well. So, the arrivals of the container ships declined. It somehow hurt the export sector. When the traders hire the ships with competitive pricing, it pushed up the freight rates. They cannot make profit with high shipping costs. This being so, trading is suspended at the present time.

Additionally, container shortage problems also hinder trading under the Free on Board (FOB) agreement. The goods are stockpiled in the warehouse as the ships rarely arrive. As a result of this, rice shipment to the southeast Asian nations and European countries came to abrupt stop. Myanmar is constantly delivering rice and broken rice only to Bangladesh, according to Bayintnaung Rice Wholesale Centre. Moreover, limiting cash withdrawal from the banks is a contributing factor to the money transaction problem in rice trade. Earlier, about 80,000 bags of rice and broken rice were daily traded at the Bayintnaung Rice Wholesale Centre, whereas only 30,000 bags are traded for now.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Republic of the Union of Myanmar Nay Pyi Taw Council Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Control and Emergency Response Committee

Notification to Public
18 June 2021

Myanmar has reported a rapid increase in cases of new COVID-19 variants since the end of May, with new confirmed cases every day. Disease prevention and containment measures, as well as treatment activities, have been accelerated. It is announced to the people living in Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory and those who would come from the outside of the territory, trucks and buses, to cooperate as follows:
(a) Teams of the Nay Pyi Taw Public Health Department, administration, and security forces do a medical check-up to the people who come from the outside of Nay Pyi Taw at Nay Pyi Taw airport, train station and the city checkpoints- Nyaung Lun checkpoint, No. (5) Junction checkpoint, Si Junction checkpoint and Pantin checkpoint, in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Sports.
(b) If necessary, they will be tested by RDT Test Kit, with the registration of their name, address, travel history and telephone numbers.
(c) Those who come from stay-at-home townships will be under the 10-day quarantine at Nay Pyi Taw Municipal guest house (2), New AYA hotel and Zabuthiri hotel, and COVID-19 detection will be carried out with RDT test kits on the 3rd day and 7th day while under the quarantine.
(d) People are educated to systematically wear face masks and stay 6 feet apart from each other.
(e) When COVID-19 positive patients are found at checkpoints and facility quarantine centres, they will be taken to Nay Pyi Taw General Hospital (1,000 bedded) (serious cases), Nay Pyi Taw Public Hospital (300 bedded), Pubbathiri General Hospital (50 bedded) and Dekkhinathiri Township Hospital (50 bedded).
(f) Those who have had contact with a COVID-19 positive patient will be taken to Zeyathiri Township Hospital (50 bedded) and Uttarathiri Township Hospital (50 bedded) to be quarantined.
(g) Drivers who violate the rules will be taken action according to the existing law and freight vehicles, and passenger vehicles are prohibited from coming to Nay Pyi Taw again.
(h) People living in and out of Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory are ordered to follow the issued guidelines in order to cut the spread of the COVID-19 disease, and actions will be taken against those who do not under the Natural Disaster Management Law.
(i) Therefore, public are urged to follow the guidelines and restrictions by considering the COVID-19 disease containment and control measure as a national issue from the date of this notification.
Nay Pyi Taw Council Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Control and Emergency Response Committee

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar