Foreign Trade is the exchange of capital, goods and services across international borders or territories. The pattern of foreign trade in a country changes along with its economic growth and development. The extent of foreign trade taking place depends upon the comparative advantage of a country. This section provides information on exports and imports of goods.
In 2021-2022, the total trade was $30,335.9 million in which exports were $15,479.3 million and imports were $14,856.6 million. The trade balance had a surplus of $622.7 million.
In 2022-2023 (April- June), the total trade was $ 8,441.6 million in which exports were $4,191.5 million and imports were $4,250.1 million. The trade balance had a deficit of $58.6 million.
The largest commodity group for exports was manufactured products, whereas the highest value imported product was refined mineral oil.
China was Myanmar's largest trading partner for both imports and exports.

In 2021-2022, the total foreign trade of Myanmar reached to $30,335.9 million, decrease of 7.4% compared to the previous year. Over the same period, domestic exports, that is exports excluding CMP and re-exports, decreased by 8.4%. General imports, meaning imports excluding cutting, making and packaging (CMP) and draw-back items, decreased by 8.5%.
In 2020-2021, total trade decreased by 13.8% compared to the previous year. Over this period, domestic exports decreased by 7.0% and general imports decreased by 19.1%.
The share of domestic exports in all exports was 62.7% in 2021-2022, a decrease compared to its share of 63.9% in 2020-2021. The share of general imports in all imports was 84.2% in 2021-2022, a decrease compared to its share of 84.6% in 2020-2021.
When comparing June 2021 and June 2022, total trade increased by 22.5%, domestic exports decreased by 10.7% and general imports increased by 28.7%.
In June 2022, the share of domestic exports in all exports was 49.5% and for general imports in all imports was 81.9%.

In 2021-2022, normal exports increased by 7.4%, border exports decreased by 25.1%, normal imports decreased by 2.8% and border imports decreased by 31.1% compared to 2020-2021.
In 2020-2021, normal exports and normal imports decreased by 12.3% and 21.3% respectively compared to 2019-2020. Border exports decreased by 1.7% and border imports have also decreased by 7.3%.
The share of normal exports in total exports increased to 65.1% in 2021-2022, compared to 56.6% in 2020-2021. The share of normal imports in total imports was 86.0% in 2021-2022, an increase compared to its share of 81.3% in 2020-2021.

In 2021-2022, government exports decreased by 6.8% and government imports decreased by 13.5% respectively compared to the previous year. Over this period, private exports decreased by 6.7% and private imports decreased by 7.8% respectively.
In 2020-2021, government exports decreased by 21.6% and government imports decreased by 38.2% respectively compared to the previous year. Over this period, private exports decreased by 2.8% and private imports decreased 18.0% respectively.
The share of government exports in total exports was 23.7% in 2021-2022, the same as its share of 23.7% in 2020-2021. The share of government imports in total imports was 3.8% in 2021-2022, decreased compared to its share of 4.1% in 2020-2021.

China is, by far, the main destination for Myanmar exports: with 25.1% of total exports in 2021-2022 and 34.8% in 2020-2021. In 2021-2022, the next four largest destinations after China were Thailand (23.6%), India (6.4%), Japan (6.3%) and United States (4.1%).
China is Myanmar's largest trading partner for imports: imports from China represented 28.8% of total Myanmar imports in 2021-2022 and 36.7% in 2020-2021. In 2021-2022 the next four main origins of imports were Singapore (19.3%), Thailand (14.5%), Indonesia (8.4%) and Malaysia (7.1%). In the previous year, the main partners for imports after China were Singapore (14.2%), Thailand (11.2%), Indonesia (6.4%) and Malaysia (5.4%).

In 2021-2022, the top export groups were manufactured products, agricultural products and marine products. Within these groups, the major products were rice, maize, green mung bean, matpe, raw rubber, and sesame seeds for agricultural products; garment, and gas for manufactured products; and fresh and dried prawns, and fish and fish products for marine products.
The two main import groups in 2021-2022 were intermediate goods and consumer goods. The major products were refined mineral oil, and edible vegetable oil and other hydrogenated oils for intermediate goods, and artificial and synthetic fabric, and pharmaceutical products for consumer goods.

In June 2022, major commodities exported to China were gas, green mung bean, raw rubber, sesame seeds, and rice. Main exports to Thailand were gas, maize, garment, fish and fish products, and raw rubber.
The main commodities imported from China were artificial and synthetic fabrics, base metals and manufactures, non-electric machinery and transport equipment, electric machinery and apparatus, and woven and Special woven Fabrics. Major imports from Singapore were refined mineral oil, plastic, dyeing tanning and colouring materials, chemical elements and compounds, and electric machinery and apparatus.