Myanmar’s total foreign trade for the 2005-06 fiscal year was almost 15 percent higher than that for the year before, according to government statistics seen Wednesday.

The amount of trade for the year through March totaled US$5.54 billion (euro4.4 billion) compared to US$4.83 billion the previous year, an increase of 14.7 percent, said the Ministry of National Planning and Development in its latest statistical survey report.

The report said exports jumped 20 percent to US$3.6 billion (euro2.9 billion) from US$2.87 billion the previous year.

The agriculture, timber, gas and garment sectors all registered increased exports in 2005-06. Most of Myanmar’s exports go to neighboring Thailand.

The statistics also showed Myanmar’s imports edging up slightly to US$1.98 billion (euro1.57 billion) during the year from US$1.95 billion.

The leading source of Myanmar’s imports was Singapore, with more than US$558 US$ million (euro443 million) of goods accounting for over 28 percent of the total import value.

The second biggest source of imports was China, accounting for 24 percent, or US$468 million (euro371 million) by value.

The United States and the European Union have imposed economic sanctions against Myanmar in recent years to pressure the military government to improve human rights and release detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar is believed to have a large amount of unmeasured trade, mostly goods smuggled across its land borders, especially with eastern neighbor Thailand.

The trade totals also do not include illegal drugs. Myanmar is the world’s second biggest exporter of heroin after Afghanistan, and also exports a large amount of the illicit stimulant methamphetamine, mostly to Thailand.