Myanmar trade deficit in goods with China was estimated at US$1.3 billion in the 11 months of the last financial year (Oct-Aug), the data released by the Ministry of Commerce indicated. The value of Myanmar’s bilateral trade with China in average trade and border trade topped $11.19 billion as of August in the past FY. The MoC reported that imports surpassed exports in trade with China, with exports reaching over $4.9 billion and imports valued at over $6.246 billion. This year, China has been stepping up border control measures to contain the spread of the Covid-19, causing traffic congestion in the border areas of two sides.
Next, the value of Myanmar’s bilateral trade with the neighbouring country China through maritime trade and border trade has registered approximately at US$46.247 billion in the incumbent government period, the statistics issued by the Central Statistical Organization under the Ministry of Planning, Finance and Industry indicated. The ministry reported that the imports outperformed the exports in trade with China over the past four years, with exports reaching over $21.363 billion and imports valued at over $24.8 billion. Between 2016-2017FY and 2019-2020 (as of August), China has been Myanmar’s largest trade partner beyond the regional states. Myanmar primarily exports rice, various types of peas, sesame seeds, corn, fruits and vegetables, dried tea leaves, fishery products, rubber, gem and animal products to China.
In contrast, machinery, plastic raw materials, CMP raw materials, consumer products and electronic tools flow into Myanmar. Myanmar mainly exports agricultural products to China through the border trade, which is often halted, on account of China clamping down on illegal goods. Myanmar merchants are facing difficulties in exporting goods to China through the legitimate channel as they find the tax levied by China is too high. In a bid to lower trade barriers and offer relief to Myanmar traders through the border trade channel, the Ministry of Commerce, the relevant departments and Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry have been negotiating with China counterparts.
Illegal trade is highly witnessed between Myanmar and China borders in the previous years. This year, traders sent the goods via legitimate trade route, and trading volume sharply fell, according to the Myanmar Rice Federation. The two countries are making efforts to set up more border economic cooperation zones and promote border trade. Myanmar’s Ministry of Commerce is trying to boost exports of rice, broken rice, agro-products, fruits and fisheries to China through diplomatic negotiations. Myanmar is carrying out border trade with the neighbouring country China through Muse, Lweje, Chinshwehaw, Kampaiti and Kengtung. Apart from its leading trade partner China, Myanmar’s external trade was mostly carried out with the regional trade partners. Trade with countries in the European.
Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar