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The twenty imports Myanmar is best placed to replace.

Myanmar imported USD 14bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 9.9bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well and where one country supplies most of them.

USD 1.8bnthe twenty, imported in 2024
115products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
539products Myanmar already exports well
258product lines imported at USD 10m or more
The twenty

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing Myanmar already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Myanmar would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.

This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and Myanmar does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

    Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings 60.01 to 60.04, of cotton, dyedHS 600622

    Comes fromChina 89%, 13 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings... (exports USD 2m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 6k; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 238m
    Countries that export it well21

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 94m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 3 per cent (3); China supplies 89 per cent (2).

    USD 94mdown 43% on 2022
  2. 2

    Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, containing indentations, ribs, grooves...HS 721420

    Comes fromChina 45%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFerro-alloys: ferro-silico-manganese (exports USD 9m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well45

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 138m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 7 per cent (3); China supplies 45 per cent (1).

    USD 138mdown 23% on 2022
  3. 3

    Waters: including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavouredHS 220210

    Comes fromThailand 94%, 13 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPlastics n.e.c. in heading no. 3915: waste, parings and scrap
    Exports of this lineUSD 355k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 122m
    Countries that export it well60

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 124m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 18 per cent (2); Thailand supplies 94 per cent (2).

    USD 124mup 6% on 2022
  4. 4

    Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, urea, whether or not in aqueous solutionHS 310210

    Comes fromOman 83%, 6 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 176m
    Countries that export it well27

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 107m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 10 per cent (2); Oman supplies 83 per cent (2).

    USD 107mdown 54% on 2022
  5. 5

    Cement: portland, other than white, whether or not artificially colouredHS 252329

    Comes fromThailand 64%, 2 source countries
    Nearest export strengthQuartz: other than natural sands (exports USD 16m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well54

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 62m, top 16 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 4 per cent (3); Thailand supplies 64 per cent (2).

    USD 62mdown 27% on 2022
  6. 6

    Food preparations: pasta (excluding stuffed), cooked or otherwise preparedHS 190230

    Comes fromThailand 74%, 5 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 3m
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 56m, top 18 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 4 per cent (3); Thailand supplies 74 per cent (2).

    USD 56mup 14% on 2022
  7. 7

    Insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, disinfectants, herbicides and the like: containing goods specified in...HS 380859

    Comes fromSingapore 61%, 16 source countries
    Nearest export strengthIndustrial monocarboxylic fatty acids: acid oils from refining... (exports USD 9m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 105m
    Countries that export it well17

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 121m, top 5 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 35 per cent (1); Singapore supplies 61 per cent (2).

    USD 121mup 24% on 2022
  8. 8

    Motorcycles (including mopeds) and cycles: fitted with an auxiliary motor, internal combustion piston engine, of...HS 871120

    Comes fromChina 61%, 5 source countries
    Nearest export strengthCycles: frames and forks, and parts thereof (exports USD 13m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 26m
    Countries that export it well12

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 116m, top 5 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 45 per cent (1); China supplies 61 per cent (2).

    USD 116mup 145% on 2022
  9. 9

    Beer: made from maltHS 220300

    Comes fromChina 54%, 6 source countries
    Nearest export strengthwood: posts and beams other than products of subheadings 4418.81 to...
    Exports of this lineUSD 1m
    Countries that export it well34

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 96m, top 8 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 17 per cent (2); China supplies 54 per cent (1).

    USD 96mup 21% on 2022
  10. 10

    Fabrics, woven: of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85% or more by weight of polyester staple fibres, other than...HS 551219

    Comes fromChina 96%, 23 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFabrics, woven: of synthetic staple fibres n.e.c. in chapter 55... (exports USD 1m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 33k
    Countries that export it well13

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 88m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 38 per cent (1); China supplies 96 per cent (2).

    USD 88mdown 9% on 2022
  11. 11

    Iron or steel (excluding cast iron): tubes, pipes and hollow profiles (not seamless), welded, of square or rectangular...HS 730661

    Comes fromChina 87%, 5 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSewing and knitting needles, bodkins, crochet hooks, embroidery... (exports USD 429k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 20k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 17m
    Countries that export it well40

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 84m, top 10 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 11 per cent (2); China supplies 87 per cent (2).

    USD 84mdown 81% on 2022
  12. 12

    Spirits obtained by distilling grape wine or grape marcHS 220820

    Comes fromChina 83%, 5 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 64m
    Countries that export it well16

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 61m, top 17 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 11 per cent (2); China supplies 83 per cent (2).

    USD 61mup 292% on 2022
  13. 13

    Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys: dolls' carriages: dolls: other toys: reduced-size (scale)...HS 950300

    Comes fromChina 98%, 20 source countries
    Nearest export strengthChristmas festivity articles (exports USD 6m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 8m
    Countries that export it well12

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 58m, top 17 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 25 per cent (2); China supplies 98 per cent (2).

    USD 58mdown 58% on 2022
  14. 14

    Dog or cat food: (not put up for retail sale), used in animal feedingHS 230990

    Comes fromThailand 75%, 23 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFlours, meals and pellets: of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or... (exports USD 77m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well48

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 49m, top 22 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 16 per cent (2); Thailand supplies 75 per cent (2).

    USD 49mdown 27% on 2022
  15. 15

    Poly(ethylene terephthalate): in primary forms, having a viscosity of 78ml/g or higherHS 390761

    Comes fromChina 78%, 3 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPlastics: articles of apparel and clothing accessories (including... (exports USD 18m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 8m
    Countries that export it well21

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 49m, top 23 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 23 per cent (2); China supplies 78 per cent (2).

    USD 49mdown 27% on 2022
  16. 16

    Sacks and bags: of a kind used for the packing of goods, of man-made textile materials, of polyethylene or...HS 630533

    Comes fromChina 64%, 6 source countries
    Nearest export strengthTextiles: made up articles (including dress patterns), n.e.c. in... (exports USD 26m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 492k
    Countries that export it well44

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 40m, top 27 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 1 per cent (3); China supplies 64 per cent (2).

    USD 40mdown 38% on 2022
  17. 17

    Footwear: parts, outer soles and heels, of rubber or plasticsHS 640620

    Comes fromChina 94%, 11 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFootwear: n.e.c. in heading no. 6402, (other than just covering the... (exports USD 219m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 555k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 18m
    Countries that export it well19

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 39m, top 28 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 8 per cent (3); China supplies 94 per cent (2).

    USD 39mdown 40% on 2022
  18. 18

    Ceramic tiles: flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles other than those of subheadings 6907.30 and 6907.40, of a water...HS 690722

    Comes fromThailand 60%, 5 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 33m
    Countries that export it well27

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 36m, top 30 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 5 per cent (3); Thailand supplies 60 per cent (2).

    USD 36mup 3% on 2022
  19. 19

    Food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10HS 210690

    Comes fromThailand 51%, 41 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPlastics n.e.c. in heading no. 3915: waste, parings and scrap
    Exports of this lineUSD 4m
    Countries that export it well51

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 198m, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 27 per cent (1); Thailand supplies 51 per cent (1).

    USD 198mdown 33% on 2022
  20. 20

    Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: n.e.c. in heading no. 3105HS 310590

    Comes fromOman 51%, 26 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 90m
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 186m, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Myanmar's export strengths in the top 32 per cent (1); Oman supplies 51 per cent (1).

    USD 186mup 130% on 2022

One line per customs heading. Products Myanmar already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.

Made here already, still imported

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

  • Railway or tramway goods vans and wagons: n.e.c. in heading no. 8606, not... imports USD 92m, exports USD 1m, top source Spain 100%
  • Cigarettes: containing tobacco imports USD 45m, exports USD 19m, top source Thailand 47%
  • Tulles and other net fabrics: excluding woven, knitted or crocheted fabrics... imports USD 15m, exports USD 983k, top source China 83%
  • Twine, cordage or rope: fishing nets, made up, of man made textile materials imports USD 19m, exports USD 7m, top source Thailand 71%
  • Glassware: signalling, (not optically worked) imports USD 14m, exports USD 3m, top source China 88%
  • Clothing accessories: other than those of heading no. 6212 (not knitted or... imports USD 11m, exports USD 2m, top source South Korea 79%
  • Embroidery: with visible ground, of man-made fibres, in the piece, in strips... imports USD 15m, exports USD 10m, top source China 82%
  • Footwear: parts, uppers and parts thereof, other than stiffeners imports USD 11m, exports USD 11m, top source China 64%
  • Ethylene polymers: sacks and bags (including cones), for the conveyance or... imports USD 13m, exports USD 13m, top source China 77%
How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 258 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.

Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.

Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.

Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.

What it cannot tell you

A map of where to look.

Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-02. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.

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