Thai-Myanmar Bilateral Trade
Thai-Myanmar Bilateral Trade refers to the Thai-Myanmar bilateral trade flow primarily routed through the Mae Sot (Tak), Ranong, Mae Sai (Chiang Rai), and Three Pagodas Pass (Kanchanaburi) border crossings. Approximately USD 5-7 billion annual two-way trade (Thai exports of fuel, machinery, food; Myanmar exports of natural gas to Thai PTT, agricultural products, gems). Coordinated by Thai Ministry of Commerce, Department of Foreign Trade with Myanmar Ministry of Commerce under structural Thai-Myanmar bilateral framework, currently strained post-2021 Myanmar coup.
Profile overview
Thai-Myanmar Bilateral Trade refers to the Thai-Myanmar bilateral trade flow primarily routed through the Mae Sot (Tak), Ranong, Mae Sai (Chiang Rai), and Three Pagodas Pass (Kanchanaburi) border crossings. Approximately USD 5-7 billion annual two-way trade (Thai exports of fuel, machinery, food; Myanmar exports of natural gas to Thai PTT, agricultural products, gems). Coordinated by Thai Ministry of Commerce, Department of Foreign Trade with Myanmar Ministry of Commerce under structural Thai-Myanmar bilateral framework, currently strained post-2021 Myanmar coup.
Trade corridors and flows
Mae Sot (Tak) corridor
Largest border-trade crossing
Mae Sot-Myawaddy is Thailand's largest Thai-Myanmar border-trade crossing by value, handling approximately USD 2-3 billion of annual two-way trade. Thai exports include construction materials, machinery, consumer goods, and fuel; Myanmar exports include agricultural products, gems, and labour to Thai garment factories.
Natural gas imports
PTT energy supply
Thailand imports Myanmar natural gas via the Yetagun and Zawtika offshore gas fields through PTT pipeline agreements worth approximately USD 1-1.5 billion per year. Myanmar gas supplies approximately 15-20% of Thailand's gas-fired power-generation fuel, making energy an anchor of the bilateral trade relationship.
Post-coup disruption
2021 Myanmar coup impact
The February 2021 Myanmar coup significantly disrupted trade flows, particularly at Mae Sot and Ranong crossings. Conflict-related border closures and Kyat depreciation reduced formal two-way trade by an estimated 20-30% in 2021-2022, with partial recovery by 2024.
Thai-Myanmar border crossings: trade volume
Mae Sot / Myawaddy
Thai side
Tak
Myanmar side
Karen State
Est. annual trade (USD B)
~2-3
Mae Sai / Tachileik
Thai side
Chiang Rai
Myanmar side
Shan State
Est. annual trade (USD B)
~0.5-1
Ranong / Kawthaung
Thai side
Ranong
Myanmar side
Tanintharyi
Est. annual trade (USD B)
~0.3-0.5
Three Pagodas Pass
Thai side
Kanchanaburi
Myanmar side
Mon State
Est. annual trade (USD B)
~0.2-0.3
| Crossing | Thai side | Myanmar side | Est. annual trade (USD B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mae Sot / Myawaddy | Tak | Karen State | ~2-3 |
| Mae Sai / Tachileik | Chiang Rai | Shan State | ~0.5-1 |
| Ranong / Kawthaung | Ranong | Tanintharyi | ~0.3-0.5 |
| Three Pagodas Pass | Kanchanaburi | Mon State | ~0.2-0.3 |
Watchpoints 2025-2026
Myanmar conflict escalation
Karen State and Shan State fighting
Ongoing armed conflict between Myanmar military and resistance forces near Mae Sot's Myawaddy counterpart creates unpredictable border-closure risk. Any significant battle near Myawaddy would shut Mae Sot trade flows and displace Myanmar workers in Thai border industries.
Gas supply security
Zawtika and Yetagun depletion
Myanmar offshore gas fields supplying Thailand face natural depletion. PTT is evaluating alternative LNG import infrastructure to de-risk Thailand's dependence on Myanmar gas. Any accelerated field depletion or conflict-driven infrastructure damage would tighten Thai power-generation gas supply.
Refugee and labour flows
Displaced Myanmar workers
Myanmar conflict has displaced millions internally and pushed an estimated 2-3 million Myanmar workers into Thailand illegally or through temporary labour schemes. Thai border-province industries (garments, fishing, agriculture) depend on Myanmar labour; any mass-deportation push would cause significant local labour shortages.
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