Myanmar ships over 45,225 tonnes of butter bean in FY2020-2021

October 20

 

THE exports of butter bean exceeded 45,225 tonnes in the financial year 2020-2021, generating a revenue of US$25.678 million, as per the Ministry of Commerce’s data.

 

In 2019, the bean touched a high of K37,000 per basket. In April 2020, butter bean fetched about K17,000 per basket. This year, it plunged into K14,000 per basket. The price dropped as the foreign demand was extremely weak amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the political changes, the traders said.

 

At present, the prices of butter bean move in the range of K65,000-74,000 per bag depending on the size in the Mandalay market.

 

Butter bean export to China, Japan and European markets has been falling. Now, it is relying only on the domestic market, said a trader from Mandalay market.

 

Normally, Myanmar exports about 75 per cent of butter bean production to foreign markets – Japan, China, Denmark, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan (China Taipei) and Viet Nam, with an export volume of 15,000-30,000 tonnes per year.

 

There are over 160,000 acres of butter bean plantations both in winter and monsoon crop seasons. The butter bean is grown in June and July for the monsoon growing season and harvested in October and November. The cold season is in October/November and harvest time is from January to March.

 

The butter bean is primarily cultivated in Sagaing, Bago, Magway, Mandalay and Ayeyawady regions and Mon and northern Shan states. Magway Region produces good-quality butter bean and Japan buyers prefer them. — KK/GNLM