Trade Profile

flag Myanmar Myanmar: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Myanmar's relatively dynamic foreign trade is generally subject to state control, although the current reforms are aiming to liberalise the market. International trade represented 53% of the country's GDP in 2021 (World Bank, 2023) in decline in the last couple of years. Customs duties have been reduced, and there are few non-tariff trade barriers, with the exception of government controls (import limitations). Import licenses have been partially abolished and taxes on exports decreased. Myanmar is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 1995 and of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The country mainly exports petroleum (15,7% of all exports in 2021), dried legumes (6.24%), precious stones (5.7%) women's coats (4.44%) and rare-earth metal compounds (3.94%); while for imports the major products are refined petroleum (12.4% of all imports), fabrics (4.9%), packaged medicines (2.27%) and broadcasting equipments with 1.93% (World Bank, 2023).

In geographical terms, China is, by far, the main destination for Myanmar exports (29.5%), followed by Thailand (23.1%), Japan (6%) and India (5.7%). Imports come from China (29.4%), Singapore (19.1%), Thailand (14.4%), and Indonesia with 8.4% (OEC, 2023).

Myanmar has made progress in exports, resulting in a positive trade balance. Official export figures are underestimated due to the valuable goods that are smuggled to neighbouring countries like Thailand, China, and Bangladesh (especially timber, gems, narcotics and rice). According to the latest figures from WTO, Myanmar exported a total of 17.29 billion USD and imported 16.14 billion USD in 2021, resulting in a trade surplus of 17.27 billion USD.

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20172018201920202021
Imports of Goods (million USD) 19,25319,35518,58817,94714,322
Exports of Goods (million USD) 13,87916,70417,99716,69215,145
Imports of Services (million USD) 2,8633,3733,5843,4211,822
Exports of Services (million USD) 3,7564,4216,4594,3322,149
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 10-2-86-22
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 1312118-18
Trade Balance (million USD) -5,767-4,132-2,850n/an/a
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 6162615553
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 3534302625
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 2628302928

Source: WTO – World Trade Organisation ; World Bank - Latest available data.

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Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2022
Thailand 22.5%
China 21.6%
Japan 7.1%
India 5.3%
United States 4.5%
See More Countries 39.1%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2022
China 32.1%
Singapore 24.8%
Thailand 12.4%
Malaysia 6.6%
Indonesia 6.0%
See More Countries 18.2%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

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To go further, check out our service Import Export Flows

 
 

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest Available Data

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Commercial Policy

International Economic Cooperation
Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),AFTA and the ASEAN - China Free Trade Area.
Member of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)
Assessment of Commercial Policy
Country’s commercial policy
Average Customs Duty (Excluding Agricultural Products)
4.61%
 
 
 
 

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Latest Update: September 2023