Bilateral trade between Thailand and Myanmar through the Hteekhee land border falls USD $ 188 million over the past two months of COVID-19 surge

Bilateral trade between Thailand and Myanmar through the Hteekhee land border over the past two months reflected a decrease of $188.38 million as against a year-ago period. Between 1 October and 27 November in the current financial year 2020-2021, the figures sharply fell to US$218 million from $406 million registered in the previous financial year, according to the data from the Commerce Ministry. The surge in coronavirus cases in Myanmar led Thailand to close the border areas and to limit the working hours of truck drivers at the border posts. Consequently, the trade via land border sharply fell in the current FY. Exports of natural gas from Taninthayi Region have contributed to the enormous increase in trade through the Hteekhee border during the previous years, the Ministry of Commerce stated.
Earlier, the Myawady border sees the most extensive trade among the Myanmar-Thailand checkpoints. The rise in exports through the Hteekhee crossing had boosted the value of the Myanmar-Thailand land border trade since the 2018-2019FY.
The border trade between Myanmar and Thailand through all border areas — Tachilek, Myawady, Myeik, Kawthoung, Mawtaung, Hteekhee and Maese, declined as of 27 November.
Myanmar primarily exports natural gas, fishery products, coal, tin concentrate (SN 71.58 per cent), coconut (fresh and dry), beans, corns and bamboo shoots to Thailand. It imports capital goods such as machinery, raw industrial goods such as cement and fertilizers, and consumer goods such as cosmetics and food products from the neighbouring country. — Ko Htet (Translated by Ei Myat Mon)

 (The Global New Light of Myanmar: Hteekhee Border Trade Falls By $188 Mln In 2 Months Amid COVID Surge - GNLM)

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