In the 2017/18 financial year, trade between Myanmar and Singapore reached 3.8 billion USD – a 28% increase from the previous financial year. Out of which, 3.1 billion USD were imports from Singapore to Myanmar and were mostly food, fuel, rubber and plastics and consumer products.
This increase in imports have continued to attract businesses to constantly engage in trade with Myanmar. Therefore, M&P International Freights is here to aid you with that.
Shipping Duration from Singapore to Myanmar
Air freight and sea freight are the 2 modes of transportation for international shipments.
Shipping cargo from Singapore to Myanmar takes approximately 2-3 business days via air and 5-7 business days via sea.
Steps required prior to importing into Myanmar
In order to be able to import goods into Myanmar, a business has to:
Shipping documents needed for customs clearance
The Myanmar Customs Department requires the following documentation for customs clearance:
- Import declaration form: CUSDEC—1 Import Declaration Form
- CUSDEC—4 Customs Valuation Form
- Import license or permit
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Landing or Air Consignment Note
- Packing slip
- Other certificates, permits or import recommendations as required (for example, a country of origin or SPS or FDA certificate)
All supporting documents must be submitted to Customs when the goods arrive as there are currently no pre-arrival processes put in place for most imports yet.
On top of that, certain items such as food and pharmaceutical products require clear labelling. Food labels are to include information like the name of the product, net weight and manufacturer’s name, while pharmaceutical labels should state things like the brand name, batch number and date of manufacture.
Duties and Tariffs for Shipments from Singapore to Myanmar
There are no Goods and Services Tax and duties levied on goods exported from Singapore.
As for duties incurred for shipments to be imported into Myanmar, there are the taxes involved:
Corporate Income Tax
A 2% Income Tax on all imports is collected in advance by the Internal Revenue Department. Some of the imports exempted from this tax include equipment and machinery that are imported during a construction project period as well as raw materials imported during the first 3 years of production.
Commercial Tax (CT)
Any enterprise that is involved in importation is required to register for CT a month prior to the commencement of business. The CT rate for importation is 5% and will be collected by the Customs Department. Exceptions to this tax are mostly agricultural products, totalling 86 goods.
Specific Goods Tax (SGT)
With effect from 1 April 2016, SGT rates are based on the nature of import goods and are updated yearly.
If you need more information regarding shipping from Singapore to Myanmar, here are some useful resources:
Why choose M&P International Freights as your freight forwarder?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the shipping rates from Singapore to Myanmar?
Shipping rates from Singapore to Myanmar are dependent on factors such as the type of transport used and the size and weight of goods being shipped.
If you are interested in shipping your items, please contact us for a quote.
What is the cheapest way to ship from Singapore to Myanmar?
This largely depends on the volume of cargo you intend to ship out.
While sea freight is more cost-effective for shipping large volumes of cargo, air freight is more affordable for shipping smaller quantities of goods.
What items are restricted or prohibited for export from Singapore?
According to the Strategic Goods Control List, here are some items that are restricted for export from Singapore:
- Military goods such as arms, ammunition and explosives
- Nuclear materials, facilities and equipment
- Sensors and lasers
Meanwhile, rhinoceros horns are strictly prohibited for export from Singapore.
What items are restricted or prohibited for import into Myanmar?
Certain restricted items require an import license or recommendation by relevant ministries for import into Myanmar:
- Satellite products, set top boxes, antennas and receivers
- Various types of fuel, motor oil and gas
- Ozone depleting substances
On the other hand, some examples of prohibited items include:
- Arms and ammunition
- Pornographic material
- Wildlife endangered species
- All types of narcotics and psychoactive substances
You can refer to the Myanmar National Trade Portal’s guide to importing goods for a more comprehensive list of restricted and prohibited imports into Myanmar.
What is the difference between a freight forwarder and a shipping agent?
The main difference between a freight forwarder and a shipping agent is the type of services that they offer.
While a shipping agent is only responsible for managing the shipment of your cargo, a professional freight forwarder provides a wide range of services such as air freight transportation, sea freight transportation, trucking, warehousing, customs clearance and cargo insurance.