Myanmar ships over 720,000 tonnes of rice over past 3 months

03 Feb


MYANMAR exported over 720,000 tonnes of rice and broken rice to foreign countries between 1 October and 15 January of the current financial year 2020-2021, Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) stated. 


The country sent over 308,000 tonnes to neighbouring countries via border trade and maritime trade saw over 418,000 tonnes. It earned over US$275 million from rice exports. 


Myanmar has exported rice to 31 foreign markets so far. China is the main buyer of Myanmar rice with over 340,000 tonnes, followed by the Philippines (36,000 tonnes) and Poland (14,000 tonnes). Meanwhile, Myanmar sent broken rice mostly to China (around 210,000 tonnes), followed by Belgium (46,000 tonnes) and Thailand (over 6,300 tonnes). Broken rice was placed in 16 foreign markets. 


Myanmar set the rice export target at only 2 million tonnes in the current FY as summer paddy growing acreage drops, said Chairperson U Ye Min Aung of the Myanmar Rice Federation. 


Weather changes affected irrigation water resource availability on agriculture. Consequently, the export figures showed a drop of 300,000 tonnes of rice in exports this year. 


Myanmar generated over $800 million from rice exports in the previous FY2019-2020 ended 30 September, with an estimated volume of over 2.5 million tonnes. 


By Nyein Nyein  (Translated by Ei Myat Mon)