December 06
The supply of potatoes from Shan State (Aungban area) has decreased since October. However, the prices of potatoes did not reach a record price like onions as Chinese onions have been flooding the Yangon markets. The competitive market benefits the consumers, Ma Khaing Lay from Hlinethaya Township, told the Global New Light of Myanmar (GNLM).
On 11 October, 9 and 12 November 2022, there was no entry of Shan potatoes to the Bayintnaung market. That being so, the market price was not set then. The domestic market sees an excess supply of Chinese potatoes and a small supply of Shan potatoes these days.
On 5 December, around 40,000 visses of Chinese potatoes and 6,000 visses of Shan potatoes flowed into the Yangon market. The wholesale prices were K1,600 per viss for new Chinese potatoes, K2,150 for old Chinese potatoes, and K1,500-K2,100 for Shan potatoes.
As Chinese potatoes having moisture content are required to be separated and processed, new Chinese onions that entered the Yangon market these days are of good quality. A bag of potatoes weighs 25 visses, Ko Aung, a dealer who sends potatoes to regions outside Yangon, told the GNLM.
On 15 and 16 November 2022, Chinese potatoes were priced at K2,500-K2,550 per viss in the wholesale market. On 19 January 2022, a truckload of Chinese potatoes was valued at K3.7 million, while the wholesale price of Chinese potatoes was only K1,350 per viss and local potatoes fetched K1,750-K2,200 per viss.
On 20 June 2022, the prices stood at K1,500 per viss of Bangladesh potatoes, K1,700 for Chinese potatoes and K1,600 for Shan potatoes.
On 16 September, Shan potatoes were worth K1,500-K2,300 per viss whereas Chinese potatoes were priced at K2,450-K2,500 per viss. About 36,000 visses of Chinese potatoes on 11 October, 54,000 visses on 9 November and 48,000 visses on 12 November were delivered to the Yangon markets. There was no supply of local potatoes in those days.
There are two types of potatoes from Heho and Aungban in Shan State in the domestic markets. Potatoes from the Sinphyukyun area usually flow into Yangon markets for three months in summer. The prices of Chinese potatoes are lower than those from Shan State and Sinphyukyun area at that time. Nonetheless, Chinese potatoes are offered higher than Shan potatoes in the second half of the year.
On 11 November 2022, Chinese potatoes were estimated at K1,950-K2,350 per viss, whereas Shan potatoes fetched K1,900-2,150 per viss. Shortly thereafter, the prices dipped. There is news speculating about the possible low supply of Chinese onions as Chinese goods are hard to enter the border market in recent days. The potato warehouses stated that the price of potatoes is expected to increase on low supply. — TWA/EMM
