Htikhee border trade surged USD $ 2 billion from gas exports for the current fiscal year

Natural gas has incrementally boosted Tanintharyi Region’s exports to Thailand via the overland border route to US$1.9 billion from a mere US$3.5 million between October 2018 and July this year.

Ministry of Commerce assistant secretary U Khin Maung Lwin said the jump in exports came from including the region’s natural gas exports into the trade data from the Na Bu Lel (Htikhee) border trade route. Tanintharyi Region’s natural gas exports used to be counted as overseas exports.

“The border trade has sharply increased after we included it in the border trade list following discussions with customs and the Central Statistical Organisation,” he said.

For the current fiscal year, almost all the exports going through this overland route comes from natural gas while imports valued at US$142 million came from Thailand, most of it being machinery for use in the regional capital of Dawei as well as foodstuffs. Total trade surged to US$2.05 billion.

Based on last year’s data, exports of non-natural gas origin through the Htikhee border route was minimal, with US$3.5 million in goods exported while imports valued at US$117 million came across the border.

“The exports from this trade used to be minimal while machinery and foodstuffs for local consumption was imported,” U Khin Maung Lwin said.

According to him, natural gas from the country produced in Tanintharyi Region valued at more than US$3 billion has been exported to Thailand and China under long-term contracts in the current fiscal year, which ends on September 30.

Bangkok-based PTT Exploration and Production pcl, Thailand’s state-owned oil and gas firm, exports gas to Thailand while gas to China goes through a joint venture company, South-East Asia Gas Pipeline Co Ltd, formed by oil-and-gas firms fromChina, Myanmar, South Korea, and India. – Translated

(The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/htikhee-border-trade-jumps-us2-billion-gas-exports.html )

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