Watermelon prices fall again in Chinese market

January 11

 

THE price of Myanmar’s watermelon sent to China dropped again in recent days, Sai Khin Maung of the Khwanyo Trading Company said.

 

High-quality watermelon fetched over 7 yuan per kilogramme in previous days. At present, the price drastically dropped to below 5 yuan per kilogramme. Additionally, deterioration in fruit quality does not even cover the transport cost to China, Sai Khin Maung stressed.

 

“The prices declined on 8 January and remain on the low side. Furthermore, inferior quality brings down the price. Chinese traders started making an outright purchase of watermelon by truckload rate rather than setting prices on kilogramme. If the watermelon stays in the bear market, transport and other general costs will post a burden on traders. I like to suggest growers not to deliver low-quality watermelon to the market,” he added.

 

It is of vital importance for growers to match supply with demand and consider the queue and cost before placing watermelons in the market. Moreover, deterioration in quality affected the market, expressed the Muse Fruit Centre.

 

The Muse Fruit Centre requested on 10 January the growers to wait for the shipment to match supply with demand.

 

Nevertheless, the prices of muskmelons remain stable at 5 to 7 yuan per kilogramme, the Khwanyo Trading Depot stated.

 

Long delay of trucks caused harm to watermelon quality and only one in five trucks heading to China remained undamaged with quality watermelons during the 2021-end period. It takes about 20 days from the farm to the Chinese market at present.

 

In addition to COVID-19 restriction measures, China’s customs regulations resulted in delays. China’s Customs in the border post will practice higher import duty as if it does in maritime trade. Therefore, the trucks are waiting for new Customs Regulation, Khwanyo Trading Depot stated.

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, trade facilitation is unlikely to happen according to China’s trade policy. Trade will go back to normalcy after China eases the rules and restriction measures for the COVID-19. China shut down all the border posts with Muse city in the wake of COVID-19 impacts.

 

Of them, the Kyinsankyawt border post between Myanmar and China, which was previously closed down from 8 July, has been reopened starting from 26 November on a trial run. — NN/GNLM