Myanmar-Thai bilateral trade hit over $2 bln in eight months of 2008-09

YANGON, Jan. 30 (Chinese media) -- Myanmar-Thailand bilateral trade hit 2.21

billion U.S. dollars in the first eight months of the fiscal year 2008-09 ending

March, the local Weekly Eleven journal reported Friday.

Thailand stands first in Myanmar's foreign trade partner line-up, followed

by China, Singapore, India, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Bangladesh

and Vietnam.

In 2006-07, Thailand and Myanmar bilateral trade including both normal

trade and border trade amounted to 2.7 billion dollars, while in 2007-08 it

reached 3.19 billion dollars.

Thailand exported to Myanmar textile, shoes, marine products, rice, rubber,

jewelry, motor cars, computer and electronic accessories, while Myanmar exported

to Thailand forestry products, marine products, agricultural produces and

natural gas.

The report also said China remained the second among Myanmar's foreign

trade partners with 1.8 billion dollars in the first eight months of 2008-09. In

2007-08, it was 1.6 billion dollars and 1.3 billion dollars in 2006-07.

Statistics show that in the first three quarters (April-December) of the

2008-09, Myanmar's foreign trade volume hit over 8.5 billion dollars up 21.95

percent from the same period of 2007-08 when it registered over 7 billion

dollars.

Of the 8.5 billion dollars' foreign trade, 7.5 billion dollars were gained

through normal trade, while over 1 billion dollars were obtained through border

trade, up 24 percent and 8.32 percent respectively.

Of the three-quarter period's foreign trade, the exports amounted to over

4.5 billion dollars with normal trade and 500 million dollars with border trade,

increasing by 14.3 percent and dropping by 2.88 percent respectively.

Of Myanmar's export items during the period, beans and pulses took over

900,000 tons in quantity, getting 500 million dollars, while rice accounted for

200,000 tons, earning 60 million dollars, the report said.

Under the current status, Myanmar is trading with over 80 countries and

regions through normal trade with Thailand standing top as Myanmar's trading

partner traditionally without change.