Myanmar pulse exports cross US$1.48B in FY 2023-2024

Myanmar bagged US$1.48 billion from over 1.76 million tonnes of pulse exports in the past financial year 2023-2024 (April-March), the Ministry of Commerce’s statistics indicated.
Myanmar’s seaborne trade registered over 1.6 million tonnes of pulse exports worth $1.34 billion, whereas over 157,409 tonnes of pulses worth $141.38 million were sent to the neighbouring countries between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.
The Ministry of Commerce’s statistics indicated that Myanmar’s pulse exports totalled over US$1.47 billion from over 1.9 million tonnes in the previous FY 2022-2023. Myanmar mainly exports black grams, green grams and pigeon peas to foreign markets. Of them, 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 for black grams 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 grams 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 over K3.1 million per tonne of black grams (urad) and K3.92 million per tonne of pigeon peas (tur), stated the Yangon Region Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
On 5 February, the prices hit an all-time high of K3.5 million per tonne of black grams and K4.197 million per tonne of pigeon peas. Myanmar’s black gram output is estimated at 400,000 tonnes per year, whereas pigeon pea production crosses 50,000 tonnes. Myanmar Pulses, Beans, Maize and Sesame Seeds Merchants Association stated that black grams, which India primarily purchases, are commonly found only in Myanmar, whereas pigeon peas, green grams and chickpeas are grown in African countries and Australia. — NN/EM