Shwe Padauk Fish Market: Hub of fish and prawn distribution in Myanmar

Every day, over 300,000 visses of fish and prawns arrive at the Shwe Padauk Fish Market in Hlaing Township, Yangon Region, accounting for 70 per cent of the country’s total fish market distribution, according to U Wai Lin, who oversees the market.
The Shwe Padauk Fish Market reportedly receives not only saltwater fish and prawns from Rakhine State, Ayeyawady Region, Mon State, and Taninthayi Region but also freshwater fish and prawns from Yangon Region, Bago Region, and Ayeyawady Region on a daily basis.
“The market distributes fish and prawns to Mandalay Region, Shan State, and Kachin State in Upper Myanmar. It also redistributes saltwater fish and prawns to Rakhine State, Taninthayi Region, and Ayeyawady Region. Additionally, the market exports them to Bangladesh via Rakhine State and to China via Shan State and Kachin State. China mainly imports hilsa, while Bangladesh primarily imports rohu and sturgeon,” elaborated U Wai Lin.
The Shwe Padauk Fish Market comprises nine sheds housing over 400 shops. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the market saw a daily influx of more than 400,000 visses of freshwater and saltwater fish and prawns. — ASH/TKO