India extends free import deadlines for three Myanmar pulses

India has extended a deadline to import Myanmar green gram, pigeon pea and black bean, according to a statement from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India).
Earlier, the import policy of free imports of three Myanmar pulses was to expire on 31 January 2022. But now, it has been extended to 31 March 2022.
Besides, if the import consignments of these items with the bill of landing will be issued on 31 March 2022 and the port clearance of imported cargos should be completed by 30 June, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India notified.
A memorandum of understanding was signed on 18 June to export a total of 350,000 tonnes of Myanmar pulses, including 250,000 tonnes of black bean and 100,000 tonnes of pigeon pea to India in five consecutive years (from the 2021-22FY to the 2025-26FY), according to the Ministry of Commerce.
Currently, the local price of mung bean is about K1,285,000 per tonne, according to the Yangon Region Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Bayintnaung Commodity Exchange).
Last September, the pulses price skyrocketed due to the sharp rising of foreign exchange rates, hitting a record high of K2 million per tonne in the domestic market.
Currently, more than 169,827 tonnes of various pulses and beans were delivered to foreign markets in the current financial year 2021-22 (from 1 October -19 November), with an estimated value of US$144.004 million, the Commerce Ministry’s data indicated.
During these FY, the country shipped $135.55 million worth of 160,792.5 tonnes of pulses and beans to foreign markets through the sea route, and $8.46 million valued at 9,034.8 tonnes were sent to the neighbouring countries through land borders.
Myanmar exported US$1.57 billion worth of over 2 million tonnes of various pulses to foreign trade partners last financial year 2020-2021. The country shipped $966.4 million valued at 1.24 million tonnes of pulses and beans to foreign markets through the sea route, and $604.3 million valued 786,920 tonnes were sent to the neighbouring countries through land borders.
The black bean plantations yielded around 400,000 tonnes annually in Myanmar, and the bean is mainly exported to India. Similarly, Myanmar has also produced about 50,000 tonnes of pigeon pea yearly and exported them chiefly to India.
Myanmar is the top producing country of black beans that India demands. Besides Myanmar, other beans such as pigeon pea, green gram and yellow pea, are also grown in Australia and Africa, the association stated. — NN/GNLM