Myanmar exported over 1.48 million tonnes of pulses worth over US$1.256 billion to foreign trade partners in the past 11 months of the current 2023-2024 financial year beginning 1 April, the Ministry of Commerce’s statistics showed.
Myanmar bagged $1.131 billion from pulses exports of over 1.338 million tonnes through maritime route, whereas over 143,119.469 tonnes of pulses worth $124.722 million were sent to the neighbouring countries via land borders between 1 April 2023 and 1 March 2024, totalling $1.256 billion from exports of 1,481,772.586 tonnes.
The value of Myanmar’s pulses exports totalled over US$1.47 billion from over 1.9 million tonnes in the previous FY 2022-2023, the Ministry of Commerce’s statistics indicated.
Myanmar mainly exports black grams, green grams and pigeon peas to foreign markets. Of them, black grams and pigeon peas are primarily shipped to India, while green grams are exported to China and Europe.
India has growing demand and consumption requirements for black grams and pigeon peas. According to a Memorandum of Understanding between Myanmar and India signed on 18 June 2021, India will import 250,000 tonnes of black grams and 100,000 tonnes of pigeon peas (tur) from Myanmar for five consecutive years from 2021-2022 financial year to 2025-2026 FY. This G-to-G pact will not affect the pulses’ annual quota set by India. Myanmar’s exporters are also entitled to deliver the pulses to India under that yearly quota.
The prevailing market prices are K3.065 million per tonne of black grams (urad) and K3.95 million per tonne of pigeon peas (tur), stated the Yangon Region Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
On 5 February, the prices hit a record high of K3.5 million per tonne of black grams and K4.197 million per tonne of pigeon peas.
Myanmar’s black gram output is estimated at 400,000 tonnes per year, whereas pigeon pea production crosses 50,000 tonnes.
The Myanmar Pulses, Beans, Maize and Sesame Seeds Merchants Association stated that black grams, which India primarily purchases, are commonly grown only in Myanmar, whereas pigeon peas, green grams and chickpeas are cultivated in African countries and Australia. — NN/EM
