Thai imports at Myawady border gate has decreased, while Myanmar exports increased slightly

Imports from Thailand crossing at the Myawady border gate have declined from last year’s volume. 

Between April and February, flow across the border totalled US$766.7 million – $66.2 million earned on exports and $700.5 million spent on imports from Thailand.

That represented an increase of $15.8 million in exports and a decrease of $21.9 million in imports, compared to the figures from the same period last year.

Merchants blame a policy shift in car imports and rising tax rates for the drop in imports.

“According to the latest policy, only the cars with steering wheels on the left-hand side can be imported.

Japanese cars don’t have steering wheels on the left, so the import of [used] Japanese cars dropped,” said a merchant on the border.

He added that tax also rose from 3 per cent to 10 per cent, but that had less impact on imports than the car policy change.

“By the end of March car imports at the border will completely stop,” he predicted.

Seafood and agricultural products are among the exports, and illegal exports of wood are sometimes reported.

Imports from Thailand include machinery, agricultural equipment, motorcycles, food, cosmetics,

commodities, chemicals and engine oils.

(Eleven Media Group: http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/business/13468 )

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