As of mid-November, Myanmar's border trade stands at more than USD 4 billion, up by USD 500 million which is 14% higher than that of the previous year: Ministry of Commerce

As of mid-November, trade at the country’s border posts showed a 14 percent rise over last year despite a fall in trade at some locations due to armed conflict or natural disaster, according to Ministry of Commerce statistics.

Total trade at the 15 border stations stands at more than US$4 billion, $500 million more than at this time last year.

The first eight months of the current financial year has seen an increase in trade of $492.917 million compared to last year, that is, from $3.751 billion to $4.244 billion.

The busiest station, last year and this year, was Muse on the Chinese border, which has recorded $306.899 million more than last year, an increase to $3.258 billion from $2.951 billion.

The second largest was Myawaddy on the Thai border, which nearly doubled its trade from $210.623 million last year to $410.118 million this year, an increase of $199.495 million.

Chinshwehaw, in the troubled Kokang region, was in third place despite a reduction of $45.07 million, falling from $262.582 million to $217.512 million. Fighting broke out in Kokang last February and continued for much of the year.

Lwe Jal border post brought in $44.347 million, Kan Pike Tee $31.808 million, Kyaitone $8.995 million, Tachileik $42.532 million, Nu Bu Le/Htee Khee $9.959 million, Maw Taung $1.033 million, Sittwe $3.986 million, Maungdaw $2.942 million, Tamu $24.789 million, and Reed station had $13.501 million.

Trade was up compared to last year at all stations except Chinshwehaw, Tachileik, Maungdaw and Tamu.

At Maungdaw, which handles mainly fisheries products, a spokesperson said storms had resulted in smaller catches and greater difficulty in transporting the products to the border.

“An embankment broke and production fell. The main export from Maungdaw to Bangladesh was saltwater shrimp, whose price was reduced,” he said.

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