Myanmar conveyed 488.21 metric tonnes of honey valued at US$0.732 million between 1 April and 31 May of the current financial year 2024-2025, according to the Apiculture Division under the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department.
The seaborne honey export reached 461.21 tonnes, while the border saw 27 tonnes of honey exports in the past two months.
Myanmar’s honey export to Japan hit 279.21 tonnes worth $418,815, while 0.5 tonne worth $750 were exported to South Korea, 181.5 tonnes worth $272,250 to Thailand, and 27 tonnes worth $40,500 to China.
Myanmar primarily exports honey to China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the US and Singapore. Myanmar delivered over 2,200 metric tonnes of honey to foreign trade partners in the last FY 2023-2024 (April-March), the Apiculture Division’s data showed. Sagaing and Mandalay regions are the leading producers of Myanmar’s honey. Myanmar’s beekeeping businesses are also found in the Yangon, Bago, and Magway regions, as well as the Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, and Shan states. Myanmar produces sesame honey, jujube honey, Niger honey, sunflower honey, lychee honey and flower honey.
Myanmar’s honey production is estimated at over 4,000 metric tonnes annually. Sixty per cent went to foreign markets, while the remaining was designated for domestic consumption. Honey is utilized as a traditional medicine in the country. There are some state-owned beekeeping stations with 6,200 beehives in 31 townships and over 950 private beekeeping businesses operating with nearly 200,000 beehives.
Moreover, bee pollination conducts in two million acres of crops to contribute to apiculture industry yearly. The beekeeping businesses near the crop fields contribute to the successful yield of the crop as well as quality bee production. — NN/EM
