Monthly Archives: November 2021

Myanmar generated US$700.13 million income from exports of rice and broken rice in the past financial year 2020- 2021 (Oct-Sept), according to Myanmar Customs Department. Border trade disruption triggered by the COVID-19 consequences led to sluggish market and the export price dropped.

The prices of white rice varieties range US$310-US$355 per MT depending on the different varieties and quality, according to the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF). The export price of Myanmar’s rice was relatively lower than the rates of Thailand and Viet Nam. Yet, the prices were higher than those market prices of India and Pakistan, MRF’s data showed.

Myanmar shipped more than 216,375 metric tons of rice and broken rice in October of the current mini-budget period (Oct 2021-Mar 2022), according to Myanmar Customs Department. China is the main buyer of Myanmar rice, followed by Ivory Coast, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Guinea. Meanwhile, Myanmar exported broken rice primarily to China, followed by the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and France.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

There are very few conditions for the opening of official border checkpoints in Myanmar this year, including the official border trade posts in Muse, northern Shan State. Members of the delegation, led by the mayor of Shweli, Yunnan Province, Yunnan Province, China, and officials from Muse District, Myanmar held an online discussion with a group of Muse township officials on November 20, and China made the remarks at the meeting. On the Chinese side, Muse, KhamKham၊ In Pangsai (Kyukot) and Mong Ko, only the COVID-19 virus-free border gate is being reopened, and in the other cities bordering China, the COVID-19 virus-free border gate is being reopened.

To prevent the people from becoming infected with COVID-19, in areas such as Muse, NamKham, Pansai (Kyu Kot) and Mong Ko, COVID-19 should be cleared to prevent outsiders from entering. There is a Clock Lock program. From the 105-mile trade zone, people will not be allowed to drive uphill, but will be driven by Shantin drivers. They will exchange goods by spreading the spray. They are then notified in writing when the systems are ready to be sent there. They said it would open only then. They have also discussed doing the same at every Sino-Burmese border gate. They said they would open it depending on our COVID-19 clearance. It may take some time to open. It will be a Fri time before it opens this year. Similarly, it is in contact with China.

Despite the presence of COVID-19 in countries bordering China, only one country. Myanmar is cracking down on COVID-19, and the Chinese government in Telhong has closed its border gates since early this year due to the presence of COVID-19 on the Myanmar-China border. Border trade between the two countries was suspended during the closure of these gates. Except for natural gas and COVID-19 preventive medicine, other goods were discontinued. China, which borders Myanmar; Thailand Laos India Despite the presence of the COVID-19 virus in Bangladesh, all border trade points, with the exception of one border with China, are trading normally without interruption, according to border traders. COVID-19 is found in every border with any country. It is also found in Thailand, for example. But trade did not stop there. Both sides are systematically trading in accordance with COVID-19 regulations. China’s request is just a pretext for the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The rest is something to think about, what they are doing because they want it, according to the Muse-Namkham trader community. China has demanded that four townships in Muse be declared a COVID-19-free zone, with little hope of reopening official border crossings in the Myanmar-Chinese trade town of Muse, according to the Muse-Namkham Chamber of Commerce. According to the website of the Ministry of Economy and Trade, the 105-mile border trade zone in Muse exported $ 3,049.884 million in the 2019-2021 fiscal year. Imports $ 1,840.694 million; The total trade volume was US $ 4,890.578 million, with exports US $ 2,900.680 million in the (interim) fiscal year 2020-2021. Imports totaled US $ 1,157.044 million. The trade volume was US $ 4,057.044 million, a decrease of US $ 833.534 million compared to the previous fiscal year. China has closed official border crossings with China due to the COVID-19 virus. Trade delays in the border trade zones such as Chin Shwe Haw, Khan Pite Tee, Kengtung have reduced trade volume by millions of dollars.

Source: Daily Eleven

Myanmar’s trade with foreign countries through land borders reached over US$ 545.86 million as of 5 November in the mini-budget year of 2021-22 or a transition period from October to March this year, according to figures released by the Commerce Ministry. The total border trade value as of 5 November includes $375.5 million in export and $170.4 million in imports.

Compared with the same period of last year, the export earnings dropped by $487.11 million while the import value fell by $45 million. Myawady topped the list of border checkpoints with the most trade value of $242.51 million, followed by Hteekhee with US$1.41.77 million. From 1 October to 5 November 2021, the country’s foreign trade totalled over $2.5 billion, while its sea trade is valued at over $2 billion, according to the ministry.

The country conducts border trade with neighbouring China through Muse, Lwejel, Kampaiti, Chinshwehaw and Kengtung with Thailand via Tachilek, Myawady, Kawthoung, Myeik, Hteekhee, Mawtaung and Meisei crossings, with Bangladesh via Sittway and Maungtaw and with India through Tamu and Reed border posts, respectively. Myanmar mainly exports agricultural products, animal products, marine products, minerals, forest products, manufacturing goods and others while capital goods, intermediate goods and consumer goods are imported to the country. 

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

The value of Myanmar’s seafood exports as of 5 November in the current mini-budget period (October 2021 March 2022) was estimated at US$89.88 million, which increased slightly from $78.35 million in the corresponding period of the last financial year 2020-2021. Myanmar Fisheries Federation (MFF) is attempting to grow fishery export regardless of the COVID-19 disruption on maritime trade, closure of border gates and fuel oil price instability. Despite the open season of offshore fishing, Myanmar’s fishery export industry is facing a series of challenges such as the oil price hike, surge in container shipping rate, the closure of border posts, disruption on maritime trade and the COVID-19 negative impacts. Consequently, it will harm the export sector somehow in the long term.

The high input cost such as fishing net, oil price posed another burden for the industry, coupled with the devaluation of Kyat in the forex market, Mawlamyine Commodity Centre stated. The marketable fish products, especially fish, shrimp, eel and crab from Taninthayi andAyeyawady regions and Rakhine State are primarily exported to foreign markets. Myanmar normally exports fisheries products, such as fish, prawns, and crabs, to markets of 40 countries, including China, Saudi Arabia, the US, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and countries in the European Union. The federation is turning to the Bangladesh market with export potentials at present. MFF is working together with the stockholders in the supply chain to have sustainable export growth in the industry.

The fishery exports through the Sino-Myanmar border have ground to a halt following the consequences and safety measures on the imported seafood amid the COVID-19 pandemic, traders stressed. Myanmar’s fishery export was experiencing a downturn due to the import restrictions triggered by the detection of the COVID-19 on fish imports in China. Chinese market constitutes about 65 per cent of Myanmar’s fishery exports. China accounted for US$254 million out of the overall fishery export value of over $850 million in the FY 2019-2020. At present, China shut down the border areas in wake of the COVID surge in Myanmar. Myanmar Fisheries Federation stated that only the G2G pact can tackle problems faced in the export of farm-raised fish and prawns and ensure smooth freight movement between countries to bolster exports.

The MFF is making concerted efforts to increase fishery export earnings by developing fish farms that meet international standards and adopting advanced fishing techniques. To ensure food safety, the foreign market requires suppliers to obtain Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP) certificates. To meet international market standards, fishery products must be sourced only from hatcheries that are compliant with GAqP. The MFF is working with fish farmers, processors, and the Fisheries Department under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation to develop the GAqP system. Processors can screen fishery products for food safety at ISO-accredited laboratories under the Fisheries Department. There are 480,000 acres of fish and prawn breeding farms across the country and more than 120 cold-storage facilities in Myanmar. During the last financial year 2020-2021 (October 2020-September 2021), Myanmar shipped $784.889 million worth of seafood, the Ministry of Commerce’s data showed.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

The value of agricultural exports was registered at US$315.04 million as of 5 November in the current mini-budget period (Oct 2021-March 2022), as per the statistic of the Ministry of Commerce. The figures reflect a decrease of $28.49 million. The agro exports stood at $343.53 million in the corresponding period of the 2020-2021 FY as the main trade partner China shut down all the borders in wake of COVID-19 negative consequences, according to the trade figures released by the Ministry of Commerce. Last month, the coronavirus pandemic impacted the foreign demand for agricultural products, livestock, mineral and finished industrial goods.

In contrary, the exports of fishery, forest products and other goods rose slightly. In the exports sector, the agriculture industry performed the best, accounting for 37 per cent of overall exports. The chief items of export in the agricultural sector are rice and broken rice, pulses and beans and maize. Fruits and vegetables, sesame, dried tea leaves, sugar, and other agro products are also shipped to other countries. Myanmar’s agro products are primarily exported to China, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. Sometimes, the export market remains uncertain due to unsteady global demand.

The country requires specific export plans for each agro product, as they are currently exported to external markets based upon supply and demand. The G to G pact also ensures the strong market for the farmers. Contract farming systems, involvement of regional and state agriculture departments, exporters, traders, and some grower groups, are required in order to meet production targets, the Agriculture Department stated. The Commerce Ministry is endeavouring to help farmers deal with challenges such as high input costs, procurement of quality seeds, high cultivation costs, and erratic weather conditions. The agricultural exports jumped to US$4.6 billion last financial year 2020-2021, despite the downward trend in other export groups.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar