Cross-border imports from Thailand double despite export lag



BANGKOK: -- Myanmar's Ministry of Commerce has revealed that the total import volume of goods into Myanmar from Thailand has doubled in the last year at the largest overland border crossing between the two countries, The Irrawaddy reported.

From April to late November, the total of value of imports through Mae Sot into Myawaddy reached US$401 million, up from $198 million over the same period in 2014.

Imports included processed foods, electronic goods, construction materials, automobile parts and agricultural equipment, while exports from Burma, valued at a mere $21 million, were largely agricultural and marine products.

Exports totaled $16.7 million over the same period last year. Myint Kyaw, director of the Commerce Ministry’s Myawaddy border station, said that the widespread flooding in Myanmar over July and August had prevented a commensurate rise in export values after the destruction of paddy fields and other crops.

Myawaddy is the largest of five official checkpoints for overland trade between Myanmar and Thailand. Between 150 and 200 trucks from Thailand pass through the border station each day. The figure is growing steadily with the construction of a second bridge crossing over the Salween River and the gradual development of a special economic zone in Thailand’s Tak province.

More cross-border trade is expected following the signing of the Asean Economic Community agreement on Nov 22, which directs the regional bloc’s 10 member nations to gradually reduce tariffs for goods traded between Asean countries.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/cross-border-imports-from-thailand-double-despite-export-lag


-- Thai PBS 2015-12-01

Wonder what the wages paid to Myanmar workers adds up to, over the same period. It may even reverse the trade balance.

Thais are so smug and love to lord it over their neighbors - they choose to ignore reality as the 'face' value is so diminished...

This is the one that beefed up security because of the Paris attacks no ? is it in Syria ??

Where does the offset value of trafficked burmese get included in these figures.

Of course, they are just imported then exported through the Malay border. Wonder if they pay VAT.

Edited December 1, 201510 yr by Reigntax