20 Sep
Myanmar exported the highest volume of onion in 2019-2020 financial year throughout the onion export history, according to a news released by the Ministry of Commerce. The country exported over 105,000 tonnes of onion, earning over US$48 million as of August this FY.
Myanmar exported over 60,000 tonnes of onion to China, over 14,000 tonnes to Thailand, over 5,000 tonnes to Malaysia, over 2,500 tonnes to Singapore, over 600 tonnes to India, over 22,000 tonnes to Bangladesh and about 27 tonnes to South Korea. The onion is permitted to export if there is self-sufficiency for domestic consumption. The price of onion is up and down rapidly because Myanmar exports onion to Bangladesh while India suspends the onion import from Myanmar. Starting from September 2019, the country has also exported onion to Bangladesh. Myanmar’s onions are primarily shipped to markets in China and Bangladesh where cultivation of the onion is on the decline. “The country exported over 14,000 tonnes of onion during the outbreak of coronavirus. The onion is exported mostly to Bangladesh via Rakhine. Now, the price of onion has dropped in the local market,” said an official from the Ministry of Commerce.
The government started to grant the export of onion to foreign markets freely in 2010. Since then, Myanmar exported 56,512 tonnes in 2012-2014FY, 66,713 tonnes in 2016-2017FY and 87,832.16 tonnes in 2018-2019FY. The country exported the highest volume of onion in 2019-2020FY. China is the main buyer of onion from Myanmar. At present, Myanmar produces around 1 million tonnes of onion annually. More than 80 per cent of onion is consumed in the country while about 200,000 tonnes of onion are likely to export.
Zin Yaw Aye (Translated by Hay Mar)
