Myanmar imported 95,000 motorbikes from China through the Muse border gate, earning the government $30 million in import duty for April, state media has reported.
Well-known Chinese motorcycle brands including Kenbo, Canda, Toyomax and Dayaung are mainly exported to local markets in Mandalay and other central regions.
Demand for bikes is high in rural areas where local people rely on them for transportation.
In Yangon Region however, the registration of motorbikes was banned in 1999 and riding in the city has been banned since 2003.
Authorities say motorbikes breed accidents, violations of traffic laws, and encourage gangs, but with almost 1 million registered vehicles in Yangon, there have been recent calls to overturn the Junta-era ban in a bid relieve the city of its crippling traffic jams.
Apart from China, Myanmar also imports motorbikes across borders from Thailand and India.
In accordance with the statistics of the ministry, the country earned almost $120 million in import duty from the import of 367,000 motorbikes since October 2016.
Import duty rates for motorbike imports ranges between $29 and $59 depending on the model, brand name and engine size.
Source: Myanmar Business Today
