Black gram exports top $335.67 mln as of 18 June

July 02

Myanmar shipped over 431,264 tonnes of the black gram to foreign countries as of 18 June, generating an income of US$335.67 million, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Strong local demand boosted the price of the black gram to K1,105,000-1,240,000 per tonne on 1 July. Black gram fetched only K880,000 per tonne in April-end, Bayintnaung Wholesale Market data showed.

The bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Myanmar and India ensured a strong market next five years, along with other relaxations on import quota, Myanmar Trade Promotion Organization under the Ministry of Commerce stated.

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 2025-2026 FY. The bilateral negotiations for the G-to-G pact started in 2016 and the two countries signed an MoU on 18 June 2021.

Additionally, this G-to-G pact will not relate to India’s yearly quota on bean import. Therefore, Myanmar exporters can ship them under the yearly quota as well.

In 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. India experienced some damages to their farms due to erratic weather, resulting in a yield drop. The demand in India has risen amid the impacts of the global pandemic and the low supply. Consequently, India’s ministry gave green light to the relaxations of conditions for imports of pulses from Myanmar. The number of bean acreage is expected to increase in the coming season following the relaxations, said a market observer.

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. The local growers were battered by quota and price manipulation in the previous years.

Myanmar shipped over 1.6 million tonnes of different varieties of pulses, especially mung beans, with an estimated worth of US$1 billion, to other counties in the FY2018-2019. During the last FY2019-2020 ended September 30, the country delivered 1.6 million tonnes with an estimated value of $1.195 billion. — MM/GNLM