A surge in imports pushed up Myanmar’s trade gap to over $141 million in the first quarter (April-June) of the current financial year 2022/23 from just $86 million registered in the corresponding period of the 2021/22 FY, according to data provided by the Ministry of Commerce. In the past three months, Myanmar’s external trade soared to $8.5 billion from $7.24 billion recorded in the year-ago period.
While exports were estimated at $4.2 billion, imports were valued relatively high at $4.33 billion in the first quarter. Compared to the FY 2021/22, exports showed an increase of over $522.7 million, while import value was up by $749.8 million.
Myanmar’s maritime trade climbed up yet the country witnessed a drop in border trade as cross-border trade with the main trade partner China has not returned to normalcy amid the strict virus policy. Myanmar exports agricultural products, animal products, minerals, forest products, and finished industrial goods, while it imports capital goods, raw industrial materials, and consumer goods.
Myanmar’s lower imports and higher exports in the past six-month mini-budget period (Oct 21- Mar 22) resulted in a positive trade balance of $169 million. Moreover, an import fall led to the largest trade surplus of $677 million in the FY 2020/21, with $15.4 billion worth of exports outperforming $14.7 billion worth of imports, according to data provided by the Ministry of Commerce.
The country’s export sector relies more on the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. The Ministry of Commerce is trying to reduce the trade deficit by screening luxury import items and boosting exports. The country mainly imports essential goods, construction materials, capital goods, hygienic materials and supporting products for export promotion and the import substitution.
