Border trade disruption led to a sluggish market yet the flat price occurs in the border export market.
The prices of white rice varieties range US$375 to 405 per metric tonne, the price of glutinous rice price was priced $600-610 per MT and the broken rice fetched $300-335 per MT depending on the different varieties and quality, according to Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF).
Meanwhile, the price is stable on the high side despite the low demand and low stockpiles in the domestic market. Yangon market sees low supply from Pyapon, Mawgyun, Dedaye, Kungyangon, Wakhema, Kawhmu, Twantay, Myaungmya, Kyaiklat, Latputa and Shwebo areas.
The price of rice has risen after the stockpiles in the hands of farmers and traders have fallen, according to Mawlamyine Rice Wholesale Centre’s trade data.
On 1 June, the prices of low-quality rice moved in the range of K23,500-36,500 per bag depending on the quality and varieties of the rice, whereas the prices surged to K25,300-39,400 per bag on 30 June.
The volume of rice and broken rice exported in the nearly eight months (1 October-28 May) of the current financial year 2020-2021 was estimated at over 1.14 million metric tonnes, generating US$546.6 million income, the Ministry of Commerce reports.
The country shipped $576.28 million worth of 1.958 million tonnes of rice and broken rice in the same corresponding period of last FY.
Myanmar exported 802,000 tonnes of rice and 601,000 tonnes of broken rice, totalling 1.14 million tonnes. The export volume in the past eight months showed a decrease of over 500,000 tonnes as against last FY.
At present, rice shipment to European countries is declining. However, Myanmar is mostly delivering rice and broken rice to China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Bangladesh and shipping broke rice to China, Indonesia, Belgium, Senegal and The Netherlands. The market cools down for now due to the transport difficulties and Kyat depreciation.
Next, China Customs granted licences to 47 Myanmar companies on 26 February 2021 to legally export the rice to China through the Muse land border this year. The authorized companies for rice export to China increased this year as against last year. However, the permitted volume of rice for exports has not been confirmed yet, Muse Rice Wholesale Centre.
Moreover, China banned all the border posts on 8 July as the COVID-19 infection is spiking in Myanmar. As a result of this, the agricultural exports dropped dramatically.
Myanmar set the rice export target at only 2 million tonnes in the current FY as summer paddy growing acreage drops. Weather changes affected irrigation water resource availability on agriculture, MRF stated.
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. — KH/GNLM
Myanmar rice market sees flat price in border despite sluggish trade
- July 14, 2021
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