CBM sells $144.8 mln in past eight months

The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) sold US$144.8 million at its auction rate in the past eight months from February to 15 September, according to the CBM. According to monthly sales of US dollars from February to 15 September 2021, the CBM sold $6.8 million in February, $12 million in April, $24 million in May, $12 million in June, $39 million in July and $28 million in August. But, there is no sale in March. In September, the CBM reportedly sold $15 million on 13 September while $8 million on 15 September at the foreign currency auction rate.

The CBM is carrying out an auction for foreign exchange to reduce the fluctuation of foreign exchange rates in a short-term period and fulfil the needs of foreign exchange reserves. Rules and directives have been set out for the CBM’s auctions. Following these rules and directives, the CBM is trading the foreign currency through three State-owned banks, 19 local private banks and 13 foreign banks, which are holding authorized dealer-AD licences. The local forex market’s data showed that the dollar exchange rate touched the maximum of K1,345 and the minimum of K1,327 in January 2021. The rate moved in the range of K1,335-1,465 in February. It reached the lowest of K1,420 and the highest of K1,550 in March. The rate fluctuated between K1,550 and K1,610 in April.

The rate fluctuated between K1,585 and K1,730 in May and it moved to the maximum of K1,595-1,620 in June. The rate stood at K1,625-1,645 in July. In 2020, the exchange rate moved in the range of K1,465-1,493 in January, K1,436-1,465 in February, K1,320-1,445 in March, K1,395-1,440 in April, K1,406-1,426 in May, K1,385-1,412 in June, K1,367-1,410 in July, K1,335-1,390 in August, K1,310-1,355 in September, K1,282-1,315 in October, K1,303-1,330 in November and K1,324-1,403 in December. In 2019, the rates are pegged at K1,508-1,517 in July, K1,510-1,526 in August, K1,527-1,565 in September, K1,528-1,537 in October, K1,510-1,524 in November and K1,485-1,513 in December. On 20 September 2018, the dollar exchange rate hit an all-time high of K1,650 in the local currency market.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

YGEA sets daily gold trading limit

Yangon Region Gold Entrepreneurs Association (YGEA) curbed the amount of gold that investors can trade, and permits only 10 ticals for daily trading. In recent days, some received purchase orders without physical gold in the domestic gold market. As a result of this, YGEA urged its members to regulate trade in order to deal with market volatility. To regulate unsustainable rally in the domestic gold market, the association called for the members to make gold transactions with only immediate payment, avoid the verbal transactions over calls and halt trading outside the Yangon region, according to YGEA. The price of the precious yellow metal was valued at K1,828,000 per tical (0.578 ounce, or 0.016 kilogramme) on 20 September, while the gold price hit US$1,745 per ounce in the international gold market.

The exchange rate on the US dollar was around K1,970 on 17 September. The price of pure gold metal hit fresh new peaks in the recent days and it reached the highest of K1,900,000 per tical on 11 September tracking the dollar gains on Kyat in the forex market. In January 2021, the gold price was ranged between the minimum of K1,316,000 per tical (28 January) and the maximum of K1,336,000 per tical (6 January). It reached an all-time high of K1,410,000 per tical on 3 February and hit the minimum of K1,340,000 per tical on 2 February. In March, the rate fluctuated between the highest of K1,391,000 (25 March) and the lowest of K1,302,000 (4 March). The price was registered the highest of K1,455,000 (30 April) and the lowest of K1,389,000 (1 April). The price reached an alltime highest of K1,709,000 (12 May) and the lowest of K1,447,000 in May.

The price moved in the maximum of K1,575,500 (11 June) and the minimum of K1,543,000 (19 June). It fluctuated between K1,562,300 (26 July) and K1,587,000 (K1,587,000). Last month, the price of gold reached the lowest of K1,572,800 (3 August) and the highest of K1,698,000 (31 September), the gold traders said. According to gold traders, the local gold reached the lowest level of K1,310,500 (2 September) and the highest level of K1,314,000 (1 September). In October, the rate ranged between K1,307,800 (30 October) and K1,316,500 (21 October). The rate fluctuated between the highest of K1,317,000 (9 November) and the lowest of K1,270,000 (30 November). In December, the pure yellow metal priced moved in the range of 1,280,000 (1 December) and 1,332,000 (28 December). With global gold prices on the uptick, the domestic price hit fresh highs in 2019, reaching K1,000,000 per tical between 17 January and 21 February, crossing K1,100,000 (22 June to 5 August), climbing to over 1,200,000 (7 August-4 September), and then reaching a record high of K1,300,000 on 5 September 2019.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

trade-between-myanmar-and-foreign-countries-reaches

Myanmar’s foreign trade value drops by $7.39 bln this FY

Myanmar’s foreign trade value hit over US$27.151 billion till 3 September in the current financial year 2020-21, declining by $7.39 billion when compared to the same period of last FY, according to the Ministry of Commerce. The foreign trade value was $27.151 billion from 1 October 2020 to 3 September 2021, while the previous FY saw over $34.55 billion in the same period. During these periods, there was a decline of over $7.39 billion.

During 10 months of this FY, China topped the list of the 10 Myanmar’s exported countries with $4,408.30 million, followed by Thailand with $2,548.12 million, the Ministry’s figures said. In 2019-2020 FY, Myanmar exported goods worth US$3,985.06 million to China, US$2,091.81 million to Thailand, US$673.87 million to Japan, US$485.50 million to India, US$434.67 million to the US, US$261.71 million to Germany, US$245.75 million to the UK, US$233.48 million to Spain, US$203.72 million to the Netherlands and US$198.29 million to South Korea, according to the data from the commerce ministry.

The value of Myanmar’s trade with China through maritime and sea trade channels totalled over $12.13 billion in October and September of the 2019-2020 financial year, including $5.4 billion worth of exports and $6.7 billion for imports, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce. China is Myanmar’ largest trading partner and its second-largest source of investment. Business centres will be established in Myanmar and China to promote trade and investment, according to the Ministry.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

(2)_4

Japan ranks Myanmar third-largest export country this FY

The value of trade between Myanmar and its development partner Japan exceeded over $1.049 billion in the current FY and Japan is placed as Myanmar’s third-largest export partner, the Ministry of Commerce’s data showed. Myanmar’s exports to Japan in the past ten months (October-July) of the current financial year 2020-2021 touched about US$768 million while import was valued at only $281.4 million, according to the data of the Ministry of Commerce.

Myanmar’s export items to Japan are garments, marine products, rice, black sesame, green gram, rubber and other products. In return, it imported machines and machine equipment, electronic equipment, fertilizers, chemical products, medicines, automobiles, and other products. Bilateral trade values have registered $1.92 billion in the last FY2019-2020, $1.89 billion in the FY2018-2019, $1 billion in the 2018 mini-budget period, $1.92 billion in the 2017-2018FY, $2 billion in the 2016-2017FY and $1.84 billion in the 2015-16FY, respectively.

This FY, three enterprises from Japan were approved to make initial investments of $518 million into the country, according to the data of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA). Japan has made up over 34.7 per cent of total FDI in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) offers loans such as ODA loans and two-step loans intending to bring about socio-economic development in Myanmar.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar