China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have completed negotiations to further refine their free trade area to include the digital and green economy and other new industries, China's commerce ministry said on Wednesday (May 21).

ASEAN, made up of 10 Southeast Asian countries, is China's largest trading partner, with the value of total trade reaching US $ 234 billion in the first quarter of 2025, according to Chinese customs data.

The so-called 3.0 version of the free trade area will "inject greater certainty into regional and global trade and play a leading and exemplary role for countries to adhere to openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation," the statement said.

Negotiations began in November 2022, and the agreement covers areas including the digital economy, green economy, and supply chain connectivity, the statement said.

The pact will "promote the deep integration of the production and supply chains of both sides", it added.

China has intensified engagement with ASEAN since US President Donald Trump announced hefty import tariffs on countries around the world and targeted China with even heavier levies. Some of the levies have since been delayed while China and the US agreed this month to pause some of their tariffs.

President Xi Jinping took a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia in April to consolidate ties with some of China's closest neighbours, calling on Asian nations to unite against what he called geopolitical confrontation, unilateralism and protectionism.

The formal signing of the trade agreement is expected to take place before the end of the year. The ASEAN-China Free Trade Area was first signed in 2002 and came into force on Jan 1, 2010.

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The Myanmar Fruit, Flower and Vegetables Producer and Exporter Association (MFVP) notified growers and suppliers to contact the MFVP via 09 43127656 to export dry coconut shells to the Republic of Korea.
Myanmar implemented the “Potential Product (coconut) value chain” project under the ACEMES-ROK Fund between May 2023 to April 2024 and offered coconut handicraft courses, according to the Myanmar Trade Promotion Organization.
The courses will offer practical approaches to manufacturing coconut value-added products from disposable coconut shells to commercially valued coconut crafts, including choosing coconut shells, sketching, painting, decorating, finishing the products, and polishing and drying methods with the use of drilling machines. For designing, basic drawing arts will be offered as well.

Read more: https://www.gnlm.com.mm/mfvp-urges-dry-coconut-shell-suppliers-to-tap-korean-market/

THE EU unveiled plans Wednesday to cut red tape for medium-sized companies and abolish barriers for businesses to sell goods across the bloc as part of its efforts to catch up with China and the United States.
The European Union wants to make doing business in the 27-country bloc easier and attract investment, as US President Donald Trump pushes an America First policy.
The latest raft of proposals come after the EU said earlier this year it would simplify environmental rules for farmers and businesses to boost economic growth. Brussels wants medium-sized businesses to benefit from some of the same exemptions -- including on data protection rules -- previously enjoyed only by smaller firms, to reduce their administrative burden. — AFP

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Group of Seven finance officials are set to meet for discussions that are expected to be dominated by US tariffs and the impact on the global economy.

The two-day gathering of G7 finance ministers and central bank governors will kick off on Wednesday in Banff, Canada. The tariffs introduced this year by the administration of US President Donald Trump will likely top the agenda. Ministers and governors are set to evaluate the risks posed to the global economy and the responses from individual nations.

The agenda includes economic sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. China's rapid increase in exports of electric vehicles is another topic. The challenge for Canada, the current chair of the G7, will be to pull together a united joint statement at the end of the meeting to reaffirm support for free trade.

Ref : NHK World

Mawlamyinegyun May 20
Mawlamyinegyun Township transported many visses of hilsa fish to the Yangon market in April, said Daw Lei Lei, a fishery products market trader in Mawlamyinegyun Township, Ayeyawady Region.
Mawlamyinegyun Township sold only 52,000 visses of hilsa fish to the Yangon market in March last year, but from April 1 to 30, it sold 65,000 visses of hilsa fish to Yangon.
“Local seafood products are regularly shipped to Yangon. Yangon is the main market for fish. In the past month, we have transported up to 65,000 visses of hilsa fish. The price of the fish also varies depending on the freshness and size. We know that the fish shipped from here is being re-sold to other regions in addition to the local market,” she said.
The price of small hilsa fish transported from Mawlamyinegyun Township is 19,500 kyats per viss, medium hilsa fish is 25,000 to 35,000 kyats per viss, and large hilsa fish is 55,000 to 75,000 kyats per viss, depending on the size. KKL

Source: Yadanar Bon Newspaper

Myanmar exported 236.9 tonnes of honey valued at US$0.355 million in April of the current financial year 2025-2026, according to the Apiculture Division under the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department.
The seaborne honey export exceeded 860.68 tonnes, while the border posts registered 47.8 tonnes of honey exports from April to November 2024.
Myanmar’s honey is mostly sent to Japan, with 96.21 tonnes worth $144,315, followed by Thailand with 140.7 tonnes worth $211,050. Myanmar exports honey to China, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.
Myanmar delivered over 2,200 metric tonnes of honey to foreign trade partners in the last FY 2023-2024 (April-March), the Apiculture Division’s data indicated.
Sagaing and Mandalay regions are the leading producers of Myanmar’s honey. Myanmar’s beekeeping businesses are also found in Yangon, Bago and Magway regions, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin and Shan states. Myanmar produces sesame honey, jujube honey, Niger honey, sunflower honey, lychee honey and flower honey.
Myanmar’s honey production is estimated at over 4,000 metric tonnes annually. Sixty per cent went to foreign markets while the remaining was designated for domestic consumption. Honey is utilized as a traditional medicine in the country.
There are some state-owned beekeeping stations with 6,200 beehives in 31 townships and over 950 private beekeeping businesses operating with nearly 200,000 beehives.
Moreover, two million acres of crops contribute to bee pollination annually. The beekeeping businesses near the crop fields contribute to the successful yield of the crop as well as quality bee production. — NN/KK

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

YANGON property market is experiencing a good condition with more rentals, according to real estate agents. Due to the influx of relocating families, the rental market for houses and apartments in Yangon is continuously high, they said.
“There are more rental deals because it’s the pre-monsoon season where house-moving occurs. Both houses and apartments are rented. Not very soon after one moves out, the next one moves in. Rental prices are K 250,000, K300,000 or K400,000 depending on the location and neighbourhood. Although the rental rate is high, there are still people who move in, or visit for training courses from the other cities, so transactions happen continuously,” said an agent.
Rentals with deposits and the 6-month contracts are now becoming more common. “Recently, rental apartments are no longer cheap. Many of them are rented on a monthly basis, on a yearly basis or on a deposit. If the neighbourhood is clean and good, it is more expensive. Those who have moved from other cities with their elderly parents prefer to rent houses. As most people cannot afford a house, they usually rent apartments,” said a tenant.
Yangon’s real estate market is currently experiencing a slowdown in sales, but the rental market is still thriving with good prices. — MT/ZN

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

THE Japanese government is considering roughly doubling the supply of stockpiled rice to about 600,000 tonnes, as rice prices remain at near record highs amid a shortfall, sources close to the matter said Thursday.
The government is studying releasing 300,000 tonnes of reserve rice over three months through July, in addition to 321,000 tonnes auctioned in three tranches between March and April.
If the government goes ahead with the additional release, its stockpile will be down to around 300,000 tonnes, about a third of what is generally regarded as the appropriate reserve level. That may raise concerns over how the government will respond if there is another poor harvest due to a natural disaster or bad weather. — Kyodo

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) sold over 4.3 million baht on 14 May 2025.
CBM announced on 13 May that it would sell US$23.67 million to fuel oil traders and 50 million baht to importers. CBM sold over $1.62 million on 13 May and over $820,000 and 1.5 million baht on 12 May. CBM also injected over 3.6 million baht on 9 May again into the financial market after over 5.3 million baht and 723,000 yuan on 8 May, and $710,000 on 7 May into the financial market.
CBM announced on 6 May that it would sell $33 million and 200 million baht to those engaged in the fuel oil industry. CBM sold 397,843 yuan on that day.
CBM injected over $42 million, over 20 million baht and 500,000 yuan in April, over $126 million, 320 million baht and 3.6 million yuan in March, over $88 million, 7.5 million yuan and 161 million baht in February and over $124 million, over 13.8 million baht and over 4.8 million yuan in January.
CBM aims to curb the instability in the foreign exchange market and currency devaluation. According to CBM’s notification on 15 March, it has been collaborating with law enforcement agencies to combat and prosecute those who attempt to manipulate the currency market under the existing laws. CBM allowed authorized dealers (private banks) to operate online foreign exchange trading freely as per the market rate, depending on supply and demand, starting from 5 December 2023. — NN/KK

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Labutta May 13
Local merchants and fishermen from Labutta Township of Ayeyawady Region dispatched 77,000 viss of sea clams to Yangon market in April, said Daw Thin Hlaing, the fishery product entrepreneur from Labutta Township.
In Labutta Township, naturally harvested sea clams are being sold to the Yangon market. It is reported that during the month of March alone, up to 49,000 viss of sea clams were sold. In April, that amount increased to 77,000 viss.
“We're actively buying clams. There’s strong domestic demand, and clams are being purchased widely. In April, compared to March, we sold significantly more sea clams by weight. Even now, in May, we are still exporting and selling large quantities of sea clams to the Yangon market,” said Daw Thin Hlaing.
Seafood products—including sea clams—sourced from Labutta are primarily exported to the Yangon market by seafood market operators in Labutta. Due to this strong trading activity, job opportunities have improved for fishery workers and traders alike.
In addition to various kinds of fish, prawns, and crabs, seafood trading businesses in Labutta Township are systematically processing and packaging sea clams and exporting them to Yangon.
From there, the products continue to be distributed and sold to other regions. Kyaw Kyaw Lin

Source: Yadanar Bon Newspaper