Foreign demand surge elevates new long chilli prices

The new long chilli prices are rising due to strong export demand at the Myawady border.
The price is exorbitantly high, up to K70,000 per viss at the border. Subsequently, transport hurdles at the Myawady border raised freight rates to K550 per viss.
The opening price of a red long chilli from the Salin area was K13,500 per viss in December 2023. The price jumped to K14,000-K15,000 per viss in domestic markets.
Maritime transport is cost-effective, yet it takes longer to deliver than other modes of transport (road and air). Meanwhile, rail transport is more affordable than road freight. Yet, it cannot reach some areas without a rail network. Air freight incurs higher costs compared to ship freight yet has limited capacity. Chilli fetches in the western border areas. Despite the high cost of air cargo, it reaps a significant profit, citing the domestic chilli market news.
The prices at those borders are K50,000 per viss higher than those in Yangon’s market, with a gross profit of K30,000 per viss.
The prices of new ordinary Moehtaung chilli and those processed in cold storage facilities are the same at K11,000 per viss, Ko Hla Han, a chilli depot owner from Seinpan Street in Bayintnaung Depot, told The Global New Light of Myanmar (GNLM). — TWA/KK