Myanmar daily conveys 40 truckloads of watermelon, muskmelon to China

Myanmar daily delivers wa­termelons and muskmelons with about 40 trucks, said Sai Khin Maung from Khwanyo Fruit Trading Centre.

 

Nonetheless, China’s COV­ID lockdowns affected the pric­es of watermelon and muskmel­ons. The prices are lower this year than last year’s prices, he continued.

 

“The market is not going well. China has not eased lock­downs. The price is pretty low this year due to the China COV­ID lockdown,” Sai Khin Maung said.

 

The prevailing prices of watermelon move in the range between 1,400 Yuan and 2,000 Yuan, while muskmelons were priced at 2,009 Yuan-4,800 Yuan depending on the quality.

Additionally, the cost of exports is too much, he added.

 

“The fruit export season has started. Despite uncertain­ty in pricing, the cost of export­ing is gradually rising. There is a direct freight transport of Myanmar trucks to China and Myanmar exporters also send them with Chinese trucks. The cost of exporting watermelon is K3-4 million per tuck on Myan­mar’s side and K2-2.5 million on China’s side. The exports of muskmelon cost 500,000-800,000 more than watermelon’s export costs,” Sai Khin Maung elabo­rated.

 

Myanmar’s watermelon and muskmelons are primari­ly exported to China. Yet, My­anmar’s traders are facing a series of challenges owing to China's policy changes trig­gered by the COVID-19 cases, traders stressed.

 

Last year, the COVID-19 re­strictions hindered Myanmar’s watermelon and muskmelon exports to China.

 

Chinese Customs Regula­tion increased delay. Long de­lays of trucks caused harm to watermelon quality and only one in five trucks heading to China remained undamaged with quality watermelons.

On 1 April, Nantaw and Sin­phyu border posts were sus­pended in the wake of COVID-19 impacts. China has closed down the major border crossing Mang Wein from 30 March 2021 fol­lowing the COVID-19 cases in Myanmar.

 

On 8 2021, the two-remain­ing cross-border posts Kyin­sankyawt and Panseng were suspended. As a result of this, the border trade between Myan­mar and China was completely halted.

 

Among Sino-Myanmar border posts, the Kyinsank­yawt border post resumed op­erations on 26 November on a trial run.

 

At present, Myanmar daily delivers rice, broken rice, rub­ber, various beans and pulses, fishery products, chilli pepper and other food commodities to China through Kyinsankyawt by 70 trucks and building ma­terials, electrical appliances, household goods and industrial raw materials are imported into the country by 30 trucks.

 

Myanmar has opened five border trade zones with China: Muse, Lweje, Kampaiti, Chin­shwehaw and Kengtung. The majority of the trade is carried out through the Muse land bor­der, the Ministry of Commerce’s data indicated.—NN/GNLM