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Thailand remains top trade partner among neighbouring countries in Q1

The bilateral trade with neighbouring Thailand is recorded as the highest among the neighbouring countries, amounting to US$1.315 billion in the first quarter of the current financial year 2022-2023, statistics issued by Myanmar Customs Department indicated. During the April-June period, Myanmar’s border trade value stood at $587 million with China, $1.3 billion with Thailand, $9.358 million with Bangladesh and $5.377 million with India respectively.

Myanmar’s exports mostly have gone to Thailand in the past three months. Exports to Thailand via border posts were estimated at $916 million, while imports were valued at $398.9 million. Additionally, Thailand has been Myanmar’s largest trade partner among the regional countries as well. Exports of natural gas from the Taninthayi Region contributed to the enormous increase in border trade with Thailand. The corn exports to Thailand have also shown a significant increase since 2019, the Ministry of Commerce stated.

Myanmar primarily exports natural gas, fishery products, coal, tin concentrate (SN 71.58 per cent), coconut (fresh and dry), beans, corn, 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. Myanmar is doing border trade with the neighbouring country Thailand through Tachilek, Myawady, Myeik, Mawtaung, Hteekhee, Kawthoung and Maese border areas respectively. Among them, the Myawady border post performed the largest trade in border trade with Thailand, followed by Hteekhee. 

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar