ข่าวเศรษฐกิจและธุรกิจประจำสัปดาห์

Individual Trading Cards (ICT) border trade reached K 40 billion in 11 months of the current financial year
Myanmar’s total border trade using Individual Trading Cards (ITC) stood at K40 billion in 11 months of present financial year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, according to the figures released by the Ministry of Commerce. From October to August this FY, the ministry issued 83 ITCs and export using those cards through border earned over K2.79 billion while its imports exceeded K37.9 billion. Out of border trade camps, Myawady border trade zone is reported to have the biggest volume of trade with a value of K26.6 billion and followed by Mawtaung border trade zone with K6.67 billion, according to the official figures of the Ministry of Commerce.
Myanmar government is negotiating with Saudi Arabia for export potential, including fishery products to Saudi Arabia’s market
The Ministry of Commerce has called for export potential with Myanmar products to Saudi Arabia’s market, the ministry stated. The ministry recently negotiated with Saudi Arabian ambassador to Myanmar concerning the items identified as export potential, including honey, fish, prawn, fishery products. At present, Saudi Arabia has received Myanmar’s answers to the queries they sent regarding the new regulations. Suppose the cold storages and processing companies are found to be in accordance with the fishery import standards of Saudi Arabia. In that case, Myanmar can resume exports of the fishery products to Saudi Arabia. Following the detection of two prawn diseases in imported marine products, Saudi Arabia has suspended fish imports from Myanmar, beginning April 2018. It is already reported to World Organisation for Animal Health that the disease was not found in freshwater prawns in 2018. However, Saudi kept imposing a ban on fish and prawn imports from Myanmar. The suspension has severely affected rohu fish suppliers as Myanmar keeps typically only 25 per cent of rohu fish for local consumption and exports the remaining 75 per cent to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, as well as Bangladesh.
Myanmar – Thailand bilateral trade reached USD $ 18.86 billion in the past four financial years
The value of Myanmar’s bilateral trade with neighbouring country Thailand in regular trading and border trade was estimated at US$18.865 billion in the past four financial years, the statistics issued by the Central Statistical Organization under the Ministry of Planning, Finance and Industry indicated. The ministry reported that exports surpassed imports in trade with Thailand in the past four years, with exports reaching over $10.73 billion and imports valued at over $8.13 billion. Between 2016-2017FY and 2019-2020 (as of August), Thailand has been Myanmar’s largest trade partner among the ASEAN states, followed by Singapore and Malaysia. Thailand accounted for 18.48 pc of total trade in 2016-2017FY with an estimated trade value of US$4.6 billion, 19.17 pc in 2017-2018FY with a trade value of $5.57 billion, 40.38pc in 2018-2019FY with $5.46 billion and 39.55pc in 2019-2020FY (Oct-April) with $3.15 billion respectively. Exports of natural gas from Taninthayi Region has contributed to the enormous increase in border trade with Thailand in the previous year. This year, corn exports to Thailand rose significantly compared with the earlier years, the Ministry of Commerce stated.
Carlsberg Myanmar has started export beer to China for the first time with the aims a move made in response to increasing demand for Tuborg in the Chinese market
Carlsberg Myanmar announced on September 18 that it has exported 36 million units of 330 ml cans (12,000 hectoliters) of leading beer brand, Tuborg – to Carlsberg China. The news marks the company’s first export of the brand to China, a move made in response to increasing demand for Tuborg in the Chinese market. “We are very excited that Carlsberg is not only able to brew and sell quality beers in Myanmar, but now also to international consumers”, said Mr Vaibhav Khedkar, Supply Chain Director at Carlsberg Myanmar. “This export has proven our team’s capabilities when working to a very tight schedule with the order successfully delivered by truck to China within just 10 weeks. This tight turnaround happened despite the export having to go through procedures, from adjusting the formula to match the taste of Chinese consumers and ordering cans to making sure export licenses and Myanmar FDA approval were in place. We are extremely proud for the achievement of our team on behalf of all Myanmar”, added Khedkar.
State and Region investment committees endorsed the domestic projects worth K 184.9 million and 32.195 million over the past eleven months of current financial year
Domestic investments by Myanmar citizens approved by the region and state investment committees have reached K184.9 billion and US$32.195 million over the past 11 months of the 2019-2020 financial year since October, according to the statistics released by the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA). Between 1 October and 4 September in the current FY, the relevant region and state investment committees gave the green light to 67 local enterprises to invest in various sectors. As of 4 September, Ayeyawady Region Investment Committee cleared 13 businesses, allowing an estimated capital of US$3.428 million and K41.26 billion, while Yangon Region Investment Committee gave the go-ahead to 12 enterprises with $5.886 million and K26 billion, Taninthayi to 10 projects with $10.5 million and K40.48 billion, Sagaing to eight enterprises with $2.344 million and K12 billion, Mon to five businesses with $4.328 million and K13.6 billion, Kayah to four enterprises with K8.2 billion, Mandalay to three enterprises with $2.957 million and K12.14 billion, Nay Pyi Taw Council to two businesses with $1.634 million and K6.147 billion, Chin to two enterprises with $0.17 million and K2.535 billion, Bago to two enterprises with K5.265 billion, Shan to two projects with K5.67 billion, Kayin to one enterprise with $0.7 million and K5.6 billion, Magway Region to one with $0.042 million and K2.5 billion, Rakhine to one with $0.192 million and K2.499 billion, Kachin to one with K965 million respectively.
Myanmar – India border trade decreased by USD $ 102.5 million in the current 2019 – 2020 financial year
Bilateral trade between Myanmar and India hit US$91.14 million as of 11 September in the current financial year 2019-2020 ending 30 September, said a statistical report of the Ministry of Commerce. The border trade during the period declined by $102.5 million compared to that of the same period last year. The Myanmar-India total border trade during the period was shared by the export of $88 million and its import of $3.1 million. During the same period last year, India-Myanmar bilateral trade was $193.7 million in total. The two countries use the Tamu, Reed and Kenglap border trade camps to deliver the goods commercially. According to the Ministry of Commerce, the total trade volume from Tamu border trading post in FY 2019-2020 was $40.5 million with exports valued at $39.5 million and import $1.03 million. Total trade volume via the Reed border trade post in the same period was $50.2 million with exports valued at $48.2 million and import $2.03 million.
Myanmar onion export recorded the highest volume in the current 2019 – 2020 financial year
Myanmar exported the highest volume of onion in 2019-2020 financial year throughout the onion export history, according to a news released by the Ministry of Commerce. The country exported over 105,000 tonnes of onion, earning over US$48 million as of August this FY. Myanmar exported over 60,000 tonnes of onion to China, over 14,000 tonnes to Thailand, over 5,000 tonnes to Malaysia, over 2,500 tonnes to Singapore, over 600 tonnes to India, over 22,000 tonnes to Bangladesh and about 27 tonnes to South Korea. The onion is permitted to export if there is self-sufficiency for domestic consumption. The price of onion is up and down rapidly because Myanmar exports onion to Bangladesh while India suspends the onion import from Myanmar. Starting from September 2019, the country has also exported onion to Bangladesh. Myanmar’s onions are primarily shipped to markets in China and Bangladesh where cultivation of the onion is on the decline. “The country exported over 14,000 tonnes of onion during the outbreak of coronavirus. The onion is exported mostly to Bangladesh via Rakhine. Now, the price of onion has dropped in the local market,” said an official from the Ministry of Commerce.
The suspension of Sino – Myanmar border trade is dependent upon coronavirus diagnosis
Suspension of Sino-Myanmar border trade is dependent upon coronavirus diagnosis, said U Min Thein, vice-chairman of Muse Rice Wholesale Centre. After COVID-19 positive patients were found in Ruili (Shweli in Myanmar language) in China on 12 September, China has restricted travelling into and out of the town and has imposed lockdown except for hospitals and supermarkets in Ruili since 14 September. China has locked down a city bordering Myanmar and will open the crossing after they have conducted COVID-19 tests. So, it will take a week. China’s Customs clearance office was also suspended starting from 15 September. “After China has imposed lockdown, they have been testing around 50,000 people a day starting from 16 September. It will take four days to know the results. There are more than 200,000 people to test. After testing, the gate will be opened within seven days if only a few people are found positive in Ruili. We also assume that the Customs clearance office will also be reopened.
Myanmar earned USD $ 764 million from 2.5 million tonnes rice export in the current fiscal year
Myanmar has exported over 2.5 million tonnes of rice and broken rice as of 4 September in this financial year (FY), stated Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) on Wednesday. According to the figures released by MRF, the country has exported over 1.56 million tonnes of rice to 66 countries and 934,197 tonnes of broken rice to 60 countries, earning over US$64 million. Myanmar has set a target to export 2.5 million tonnes of rice in present financial 2019-2020 which started from 1 October, according to MRF.
Only six trucks per day allowed in entering at Tachilek – Mae Sai border after negotiations between countries
The surge in coronavirus cases in Myanmar led Thailand to close its border area in Mae Sai recently. Only six lorries are now allowed on Tachilek-Mae Sai bridge per day after negotiations of the two countries, stated the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) in its news release. Following the coronavirus resurgences in Myanmar, Thailand imposed a ban on Myanmar’s trucks plying through Tachilek-Mae Sai No.2 Friendship Bridge on 15 September. Myanmar officials were prompt to negotiate with Thailand counterparts in the afternoon of 16 September, and six trucks will be allowed for entry and exit on the bridge. The entry and exit restriction will undoubtedly hinder the flow of goods. The truck drivers are issued entry cards. They will be fined 100,000 baht or one-year imprisonment if they violate the rules published in Chiang Rai province, the UMFCCI stated.