A Southeast Asian country surrounded by India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Laos and China, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar bought US$14.3 billion worth of imported goods in 2021. That dollar amount reflects a -25.6% decline from $19.3 billion in 2017.

The value of total imports into Myanmar fell by -20.3% compared to $17.96 billion during 2020.

Myanmar’s top 5 most valuable imported products are refined petroleum oils, palm oil, woven fabrics including synthetic staple fibers, medication mixes in dosage, and miscellaneous food preparations. That cohort of 5 main imports represent over one third (34.1%) of Myanmar’s overall spending on imported products in 2021.

Major Suppliers of Myanmar’s Imported Products

The latest available country-specific data shows that 91.4% of products imported into Myanmar were furnished by exporters in: mainland China (29.4% of the global total), Singapore (19.1%), Thailand (14.4%), Indonesia (8.4%), Malaysia (6%), India (4%), Vietnam (2.4%), South Korea (2.12%), Japan (2.1%), United States of America (1.4%), United Arab Emirates (1.05%) and Australia (1%).

From a continental perspective, 91.7% of Myanmar’s imports by total cost were purchased from fellow Asian countries. Trade partners in Europe supplied 3.9% of imports purchased by Myanmar while another 1.8% worth of goods originated from North America.

Tinier percentages came from exporters in Oceania (1.3%) led by Australia and New Zealand, Latin America (1.2%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, and Africa (0.1%).

Given Myanmar’s population of 53.6 million people, its total $14.3 billion in 2021 imports translates to roughly $270 in yearly product demand from every person living in the Southeast Asian nation also known as Burma. That dollar amount falls below the average $340 per capita one year earlier during 2020.

Myanmar’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Myanmar’s import purchases during 2021. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Myanmar.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$2.9 billion (20.3% of total imports)
2. Machinery including computers: $1.2 billion (8.4%)
3. Animal/vegetable fats, oils: $919.3 million (6.4%)
4. Electrical machinery, equipment: $721.2 million (5%)
5. Manmade staple fibers: $713.8 million (5%)
6. Plastics, plastic articles: $614.3 million (4.3%)
7. Vehicles: $558.2 million (3.9%)
8. Pharmaceuticals: $533.4 million (3.7%)
9. Iron, steel: $528.6 million (3.7%)
10. Miscellaneous food preparations: $454.3 million (3.2%)

Myanmar’s top 10 imports accounted for over two-thirds (68.1%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Imported animal or vegetable fats and oils posted the fastest-growing increase in cost among Myanmar’s top 10 import categories via a 29.9% uptick from 2020 to 2021.

In second place for improving import purchases were articles made from iron or steel, a category which expanded by 19.2%.

The only other top category of Burmese imports to advance was mineral fuels including oil via a 5.5% upturn compared to 2020.

Leading the year-over-year decliners were Myanmar’s imports of iron and steel (down -53.2%) and vehicles (down -53.1%).

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented below is at the more granular 4-digit level.

Myanmar’s Main Imported Fuels

In 2021, Burmese importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related goods.

1. Processed petroleum oils: US$2.7 billion (up 8.8% from 2020)
2. Petroleum gases: $159.9 million (up 2.1%)
3. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $29.9 million (up 19.4%)
4. Natural bitumen, asphalt, shale: $17.5 million (down -31.4%)
5. Petroleum oil residues: $17.2 million (down -50.1%)
6. Electrical energy: $13.8 million (up 7.1%)
7. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $785,000 (down -30.3%)
8. Asphalt/petroleum bitumen mixes: $272,000 (up 8966.7%)
9. Crude oil: $125,000 (up 108.3%)
10. Distilled tar: $112,000 (down -78.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Burmese purchases of asphalt or petroleum bitumen mixes (up 8,967%), crude oil (up 108.3%) then petroleum jelly and mineral waxes (up 19.4%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported mineral fuels including oil among businesses and consumers in Myanmar.

Myanmar’s Main Imported Machinery

In 2021, Burmese importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery.

1. Move/grade/scrape/boring machinery: US$264.1 million (up 96.2% from 2020)
2. Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $156.2 million (down -33.9%)
3. Refrigerators, freezers: $69.9 million (up 16%)
4. Machinery parts: $61 million (down -43.5%)
5. Computers, optical readers: $49.6 million (down -45.8%)
6. Engines (diesel): $42.1 million (down -1.7%)
7. Liquid pumps and elevators: $41.5 million (down -33.6%)
8. Miscellaneous machinery: $39 million (up 76.6%)
9. Air conditioners: $37.9 million (down -56.9%)
10. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $37.9 million (up 35.9%)

Among these import subcategories, Burmese purchases of moving, grading, scraping or boring machinery (up 96.2%), miscellaneous machinery (up 76.6%) then centrifuges, filters and purifiers (up 35.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery including computers among businesses and consumers in Myanmar.

Myanmar’s Main Imported Animal or Vegetable Fats, Oils

In 2021, Burmese importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of animal or vegetable fats and oils.

Myanmar’s importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of animal or vegetable fats and oils during 2021.
1. Palm oil: US$869.6 million (up 34.8% from 2020)
2. Sun/safflower/cotton-seed oil: $25 million (down -41%)
3. Margarine: $10.2 million (up 37.2%)
4. Animal/vegetable hydrogenated fats, oils: $6.1 million (down -16.4%)
5. Coconut/palm/babassu oil: $5.6 million (up 117.7%)
6. Soya-bean oil: $1.5 million (up 20%)
7. Olive oil: $503,000 (down -13.3%)
8. Fixed vegetable fats/oils: $212,000 (down -43.5%)
9. Fish/marine mammal fats and oils: $182,000 (down -22.6%)
10. Boiled, oxidized or dehydrated fats and oils: $126,000 (up 157.1%)

Among these import subcategories, Burmese purchases of boiled, oxidized or dehydrated fats and oils (up 157.1%), coconut, palm or babassu oil (up 117.7%) then margarine (up 37.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported animal or vegetable fats and oils among businesses and consumers in Myanmar.

Myanmar’s Main Imported Electrical Products

In 2021, Burmese importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical items including consumer electronics.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$214.9 million (down -59.2% from 2020)
2. Insulated wire/cable: $78.5 million (down -44.5%)
3. Electric storage batteries: $53.8 million (down -29.3%)
4. Electrical converters/power units: $47.9 million (down -64.7%)
5. High-voltage switches, fuses: $36.3 million (down -15.3%)
6. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $28.8 million (down -32.9%)
7. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $24.3 million (down -38.9%)
8. Electric generating sets, converters: $24 million (down -94.4%)
9. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $21.1 million (down -69.1%)
10. Electric motors, generators: $20.3 million (down -86.1%)

Among these import subcategories, Burmese purchases of high-voltage switches and fuses (down -15.3%), electric storage batteries (down -29.3%) then television receivers, monitors and projectors (down -32.9%) declined at the slowest pace from 2020 to 2021.

These amounts and the percentage changes within parenthesis suggest where the strongest demand remains for different types of imported electronics among businesses and consumers in Myanmar.
 

See also Myanmar’s Top 10 Exports, Thailand’s Top Trading Partners, Japan’s Top Trading Partners, India’s Top Trading Partners, Malaysia’s Top Trading Partners and Poland’s Top Trading Partners

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook East Asia/Southeast Asia: Burma. Accessed on July 18, 2022

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on July 18, 2022

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 18, 2022

The World Bank, Official Exchange Rate (LCU per US$, period average) – Myanmar. Accessed on July 18, 2022

Wikipedia, Myanmar. Accessed on July 18, 2022