In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Myanmar is still registering surprising trade numbers. One of them is the surge in trade with its western neighbor Bangladesh. A statistical report by the Ministry of Commerce says the border trade between the two countries hit USD 748.36 million as of August 21st in the current financial year of 2019-2020.

This is a whopping increase by USD 727 million, compared with the number of the same period last year when the total bilateral border trade was merely USD 21.03 million. Myanmar would boast a positive trade balance, exporting USD 444 million and importing USD 304 million. These numbers are on par with trade numbers with partners such as the US or Vietnam.

So far this FY, Myanmar posts increases in exports (USD 15.7 billion, +USD 638 million) as well as in imports (USD 12.27 billion, +USD 1.17 billion) as of August 21st for the current FY, widening its trade deficit.