YANGON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar suffered a trade deficit of 3.2 billion U.S. dollars as of Jan. 5 in the present fiscal year 2017-18, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported Saturday.

During the period, the country's foreign trade hit 24.67 billion U.S. dollars, increasing by 3.9 billion U.S. dollars compared to the same period of last FY 2016-17.

The import value amounted 13.9 billion U.S. dollars while its export value was 10.7 billion U.S. dollars during the nine months' period.

In the last fiscal year of 2016-17, Myanmar also suffered a trade deficit of 5.5 billion U.S. dollars.

The authorities are exerting efforts to boost the country's exports to reduce the trade deficit.

The country mostly exports agricultural products, animal products, minerals and forest products, while importing capital goods, intermediate goods and consumer goods.