Myanmar to ship over 60,000 tonnes of sugar to Viet Nam in upcoming season

September 21

 

Myanmar will export more than 60,000 tonnes of sugar to Viet Nam in the upcoming 2022-2023 season, according to Myanmar Sugar and Sugarcane Products Association.

 

Than Taung Oo and Ngwe Yee Pale sugar mills have been authorized to export Myanmar’s sugar to Viet Nam. Those two mills annually send 60,000 tonnes of sugar to foreign markets.

 

Last season, Than Taung Oo sugar mill had a production capacity of over 50,000 tonnes while Ngwe Yee Pale sugar mill produced approximately 140,000 tonnes.

 

In the 2023-2024 season, new advanced machines will be installed. Moreover, sugarcane expansion is also expected on account of soaring sugar prices. That is why sugar export will grow for sure, the association stated.

 

Myanmar’s annual sugar production is estimated at 450,000 tonnes. Myanmar earlier sent sugar to China through a cross-border channel beyond self-sufficiency. At present, it is delivered to Viet Nam only, said U Win Htay, vice chair of the association.

 

The export was conducted under the state-level Memorandum of Understanding. However, sugar export to China came to a halt suddenly due to the COVID-19 policy of China. Therefore, the sugar industry called for a government-to-government agreement to legally export sugar to China under quota, he continued.

 

In recent days, one Chinese company located in Hebei province sent a proposal through the Foreign Ministry to buy Myanmar’s refined sugar, syrup, and white and brown sugar. They like to purchase 30,000-50,000 tonnes of sugar every year (about 3,000 tonnes per month), as per the proposal.

 

When the two parties can agree on the price, the trade will happen, according to the association.

 

Following the soaring sugar price, some local companies offered the sugarcane price at K90,000 per tonne for the upcoming 2022-2023 sugarcane season. The prevailing sugar price hit a high of K2,550 per viss (a viss equals 1.6 kilogrammes).

 

Furthermore, Ngwe Yee Pale Sugar Company planned to contribute K200,000 per acre in advance for those new sugarcane growers for the 2023-2024 season.

 

Sugarcane is commonly grown in the upper Sagaing Region, followed by northern Shan State. It is also cultivated in the western and eastern Bago Region, Yangon Region and Mandalay Region.

 

The sugarcane is grown in December-January. It can be harvested from November to February of the following years. The sugarcane growing rotation cycle lasts four years in Myanmar. — NN/GNLM