CNI News
12 August 2025
There are trade difficulties and delays in goods in Myanmar due to conflicts on border and domestic trade routes, excessive gate fees, and the presence of numerous armed groups.
Trucks mainly import consumer goods from neighboring Thailand, using the Myawaddy-Htok Kaw Ko-Nabu-Hpa-An section of the road, also known as the old Dawna Taung Road.
The significant drop in Thai goods flow is due to difficult transportation and the large number of checkpoints, an official from the department of unloading and loading goods of the Myawaddy Township Trade Zone told CNI News.
“First, due to the checks and arrests at the Mayangyaung border gate, most import and export businesses have seen a 30 percent drop in official goods flow compared to the previous month. Thai goods flow, which used to be full, will now only be 30 percent. Where there is a 30 percent flow, only businesses that carry duty will be able to flow. From what I know from agents, while previously 100 trucks could go through, now only 30 can. For freight workers, this month is a month of low income. Due to the closure of the Asia Road, the traffic conditions on the old Daun Taung Road, Htok Kaw Koe Road, and Kyet Oo Taung Road are not as bad as last year, but this year there is less trade flow. The dirt and gravel roads are causing traffic accidents, the area is unstable and there are frequent and intense battles, which are causing harm to traders, and the people are facing food shortages due to rising commodity prices," he said.
While the TNLA was inspecting trucks
The old Dawna Taung Road is a single-lane dirt road that is used for one day uphill and one day downhill, and travelers say that various armed groups are demanding tolls on the road.
“The number of our trucks on the road has decreased by half compared to before, and the number of 6-wheeled vehicles has decreased by half compared to before. I think we pay duty on imported animals and pigs. There are many imported vehicles. There are many gates on the mountain road. There are many KNLA groups on the old road. If you go beyond the Nabu road, there are many KNU and KNLA Peace Council groups.” U Aung Kyaw Oo, chairman of the Prahita Alinthit Association, told CNI News.
Thai consumer goods are widely used in Myanmar, and local people in Mon and Kayin States rely on the flow of Thai goods for their business.
Similarly, Myanmar is importing electrical appliances, consumer goods, and construction materials , including medicines from China, but trade has been halted due to ongoing fighting along the China-Myanmar border trade route and armed groups controlling the route and demanding money.
The flow of illegal Thai goods has decreased significantly due to inspections at the Mayangyaung border gate, and the number of legal goods from Thailand has also decreased by half, an online shop owner told CNI News.
While the police were checking cars
Similarly, the flow of goods between regions and states in Myanmar has been reduced and trade is becoming increasingly difficult due to the Myanmar Tatmadaw and various armed groups opening gates on trade routes, conducting frequent inspections, demanding money, and imposing restrictions.
"Trucks depend on custom duties. They can go and return within a day. There are KNLA gates on the old road and there are BGF, DKBA and KNU gates on the Htaw Koh Kaw road, a total of about 10 gates. The Kyet Oo Taung section of the road has been fully controlled by the DKBA. A passenger has to pay 100,00 or 150,000 kyats. Trucks and cars have to queue to be checked and if they start leaving at 06:00 a.m., they reach the destination about 02:00 p.m." said a driver of a bus going on the Myawaddy-Hpa-an Road to CNI News.
Myanmar depend on China and Thailand in importing consumer goods, foodstuffs, construction materials, electric products and medicines. Currently, the Myawaddy-Kawkareik Asia Road, a Thailand-Myanmar border trade route cannot used due to battles.
Moreover, Kyekhaung-Muse-Lashio-Mandalay Road, a China-Myanmar border trade route
cannot be used as well due to battles.
