Mawlamyine, March (29)
Thai-Myanmar border trade has almost stopped amid the ongoing fighting along the Asian Highway in Karen State, with only a small amount of illegal trade remaining, the traders told Than Lwin Times.
The fighting between the regime troops and the KNLA joint forces has been raging in the Kawkayeik, Kyondoe, and Myawaddy trading zones along the Asia Highway since March 25. Until now, the tension has continued to rise between the two sides.
The White Tiger Column has urged people not to travel from Kyondoe to Myawaddy in any way beginning March 25 due to the current complicated military and security situation.
A border trader said that due to the fighting, legal trade has almost completely stopped, leaving only 10 percent of trade exported through illegal routes.
Due to the fighting on the Asian Highway, the traders have to detour from Hto Ko Koe road, which takes more time and costs more, and they cannot import as many goods as they need, so the prices of Thai products have risen slightly.
Currently, the closure of the border trade zone is hindering the flow of exports and imports, and traders believe that the price of Thai goods may increase significantly as the days of the border blockade go on.
A seller of Thai products said that since the trucks carrying the goods are not running, the prices have gone up slightly because those who have Thai goods in stock have raised the prices.
The fighting and the difficulty of transportation caused the price of Thai goods to rise slightly, from around 200 kyats to around 1,000 kyats, depending on the type.
Myanmar exports local crops to Thailand through the Myawaddy Trade Zone and imports basic foodstuffs, medicines, cosmetics, consumer goods, construction raw materials and general commodities from Thailand.
News-Than Lwin Times
Photo-CJ