Merchants seen at 105-Mile Muse Boder Trade Zone in northern Shan State. Photo: Phoe Khwar
The value of border trade from 1st April to 25 August this fiscal year was down by US$165 million when compared to that in the same point of last fiscal year.
Border trade from 1st April to 25 August this fiscal year hit $2.77 billion — $1.65 billion in exports and $1.12 billion in imports, according to the official statistics of the Ministry of Commerce.
Myanmar trades with neighbouring countries — China, India, Bangladesh and Thailand. Sino-Myanmar border trade is carried out through the Muse, Lweje, Kanpiketee, Chin- shwehaw and Kengtung gates, while Myanmar is carrying out border trade with India via Tamu and Reed. The country’s border trade gates with Bangladesh are Sittway and Maungtaw.
The increase in exports through border trade is due to the major increase in Muse border trade camps, which performed the largest amount of trade out of all 16 border trade camps.
The border trade value as of 25 August in the current FY was $1.89 billion in Muse, $86.7 million in Lweje, $219.5 million in Chin- shwehaw, $52.2 million in Kanpiketee, $560,000 in Kengtung, $28.7 million in Tachilek, $330.6 million in Myawady, $56 million in Kawthoung, $63.7 million in Myeik, $2.5 million in HteeKhee, $2 million in Mawtaung, $230,000 in Maese, $2.4 million in Sittway, $5.1 million in Maungtaw, $11.8 million in Tamu and $15.4 million in Reed.