Myanmar ships over 112,000 tonnes of various pulses as of 29 Oct
5 NOVEMBER 2021
Myanmar conveyed US$96 million worth of 112,367.68 tonnes of various pulses to foreign trade partners as of 29 October in the current mini-budget period (October 2021-March 2022), according to statistics released by the Ministry of Commerce.
More than two million tonnes of various pulses and beans were delivered to foreign markets in the previous financial year 2020-2021 (October 2020-September 2021), with an estimated value of US$1.57 billion, the Commerce Ministry’s data indicated.
During last FY, the country shipped $966.4 million worth of 1.24 million tonnes of pulses and beans to foreign markets through the sea route, and $604.3 million valued at 786,920 tonnes were sent to the neighbouring countries through land borders.
During the FY 2019-2020 ended September 30, the country delivered 1.6 million tonnes with an estimated value of $1.195 billion. This being so, the pulses and beans exports grew year over year.
India is the main buyer of Myanmar beans, especially black beans, green grams and pigeon peas. Besides India, Myanmar’s beans are purchased by Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, UAE, Malaysia, Indonesia, China (Taipei), Japan, and European countries. But, the volume of demand by those countries is small, according to the domestic beans market.
The prices of pulses and beans drop tracking the Kyat revaluation on US dollar in the local forex market in late October, according to the traders from the Bayintnaung Commodity Wholesale Centre.
The price of black gram hit an all-time high of K2 million per tonne on 29 September following Kyat weakening against the US dollar. At present, the exchange rate of a US dollar dipped below K2,000. The price of black beans (Fair Average Quality) plummeted to K1.4 million per tonne. Similarly, the price of pigeon peas decreased slightly to K1.18 million per tonne.
India set an import quota on beans including black gram and pigeon peas starting from 2017. Myanmar earlier had to export black bean and pigeon peas under the quota system and limit period.
On 15 May 2021, India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare approved not only black gram but also other pulses being imported from Myanmar that have the bill of lading up to October-end 2021, with relaxations of conditions regarding clearance consignment up to 30 November 2021.
According to this statement, the previous notifications dated 19 March 2021 and 26 March 2021 were cancelled.
Additionally, Myanmar can export 250,000 tonnes of black gram (urad) and 100,000 tonnes of pigeon peas under the G-to-G (government to government) pact during the April-March period between the 2021-2022 financial year and the 2025-2026FY, as per the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Commerce and India’s counterpart signed on 18 June.
At present, the demand for green gram slips due to border trade restrictions amid the COVID-19, with an estimated value of around K125,000 per three-basket bag.
Myanmar’s agriculture sector is the backbone of the country’s economy and it contributes to over 30 per cent of Gross Domestic Products. The country primarily cultivates paddy, corn, cotton, sugarcane, various pulses and beans. Its second-largest production is the pulses and beans, counting for 33 per cent of agro products and covering 20 per cent of growing acres. Among them, black beans, pigeon peas and green grams constitute 72 per cent of bean acreage. Other beans, including peanut, chickpea, soybean, black-eyed beans, butter beans and rice beans are also grown in the country.