Myanmar sets over 2 mln tonnes of corn export target this season

Myanmar aims to achieve more than two million tonnes of corn export target this season, said U Min Khaing, patron of Myanmar Corn Industrial Association.
The corn output in 2023 is estimated at three million tonnes and one million tonnes are planned for domestic consumption.
“The yield does not drop just like last year. Normally, the corn production rate is around 3 million tonnes. The domestic consumption does not reach a million tonne,” said U Min Khaing.
China is purchasing Myanmar’s corn through cross-border trade under the poppy substitution programme. Legitimate corn trade between Myanmar and China commenced at the end of 2022. A total of 112 companies have been given the go-ahead for corn exports. Additionally, Myanmar shipped corn to China, India, Viet Nam and the Philippines via maritime trade channels.
Myanmar is allowed to export corn to Thailand with tax exemption from 1 February through border posts.
Thailand gives green light to corn imports under zero tariff (with Form-D), between 1 February and 31 August. However, Thailand imposed a maximum tax rate of 73 per cent on corn imports to protect the rights of their growers if the corn is imported during the corn season of Thailand.
The corn price was on a gradual increase on the back of foreign demand, touching a high of K1,280 per viss (one viss equals 1.6 kilogrammes).
Myanmar exported 2.3 million tonnes of corn to foreign trade in the 2020-2021 financial year. The majority of them were sent to Thailand and the remaining went to China, India and Viet Nam.
At present, corn is cultivated in Shan, Kachin, Kayah and Kayin states and Mandalay, Sagaing and Magway regions. Myanmar has three corn seasons- winter, summer and monsoon. The country produces 2.5-3 million tonnes of corn every year. — NN/EM