Myanmar conveyed over 1.1 million tonnes of pulses worth over US$931 million to foreign trade partners in the past eight and half months of the current 2023-2024 financial year beginning 1 April, the Ministry of Commerce’s statistics showed.
Myanmar bagged $815.65 million from pulses exports of over 964,987 tonnes through the maritime trade channel, whereas over 135,383 tonnes of pulses worth $116.3 million were sent to the neighbouring countries via border between 1 April and 15 December 2023, totalling $931.955 million from exports of 1,100,371 tonnes.
The value of Myanmar’s pulses exports totalled over US$1.47 billion from over 1.9 million tonnes in the previous FY 2022-2023, the Ministry of Commerce’s statistics indicated.
Myanmar mainly exports black gram, green gram and pigeon peas to foreign markets. Black grams and pigeon peas are primarily shipped to India, while green grams are exported to China and Europe.
India has growing demand and consumption requirements on black gram and pigeon peas. According to a Memorandum of Understanding between Myanmar and India signed on 18 June 2021, India will import 250,000 tonnes of black gram and 100,000 tonnes of pigeon peas (tur) from Myanmar for five consecutive years from 2021-2022 financial year to 2025-2026 FY. This G-to-G pact will not affect the pulses’ annual quota set by India. Myanmar’s exporters are also entitled to deliver the pulses to India under that yearly quota.
The prevailing market prices are K3.01 million per tonne of black gram (urad) and K3.35 million per tonne of pigeon pea (tur).
Black gram, which India primarily purchases, is commonly found only in Myanmar. In contrast, pigeon peas, green grams and chickpeas are grown in African countries, Australia, stated the Myanmar Pulses, Beans, Maize and Sesame Seeds Merchants Association. — NN/EM
