There is a trade deficit of over 1.39 billion US dollars in 2018-2019 fiscal year though the total trade value exceeded its target of 31 billion US dollars. 

In 2018-19 FY, the total trade value hit 34.979 billion US dollars—exports of 16,919.925 million USD and imports of 18059.923 million USD. 

From October 1 to September 30, 2017-2018 FY, the total trade value amounted to over 35.895 billion USD—exports of 16446.707 million USD and imports of 19448.656 million USD. 

The total trade value in 2018-2019 FY, declined by 915.500 million USD, compared with 2017-2018 FY. 

In 2018-2019 FY, the total trade value was expected to hit 31.1 billion USD—exports of 15.3 billion USD and imports of 15.8 billion USD, and the trade deficit, to lower to 500 million USD. 

Dr. Aung Ko Ko, an economist, said: “The reason why the trade deficit continues to exist is our country is that we are still a developing country, not an industrialized country. This is the first point. The second point is our country is still weak in infrastructure development. The infrastructure sector has to import necessary materials. That’s why, the import sector will see some necessities. The third point is the country has fewer numbers of export items. It is linked to the first and second points. The imports are higher than exports. The fourth point is the central bank can have more control over the monetary market gradually compared with the previous three or five years. In the past, the monetary market controlled the prices fixed by the central bank. I think now the central bank can gradually control the current market prices. This is an important point. Due to these points, the gap between import and export will gradually low.”

Due to the massive influx of local and foreign investments, the country may see an increase in imports of raw materials.