Myanmar ships over 1.2 mln tonnes of various pulses worth $900 mln to external markets in past 9 months

Myanmar conveyed more than 1.2 million tonnes of various beans and pulses worth US$900 million to foreign trade partners in the past nine months of the current financial year 2022-2023, the Ministry of Commerce’s data indicated.
The country shipped over 1,075,537.894 tonnes of pulses and beans valued at $854.738 million to foreign markets by sea, and over 163,571.529 tonnes valued at $114.791 million were sent to the neighbouring countries through land borders, totalling 1,239,109.423 tonnes worth $969.529 million.
Myanmar exported over 2 million tonnes of various pulses worth US$1.57 billion to foreign trade partners last financial year 2020-2021. The country shipped 1.24 million tonnes of pulses and beans valued at $966.4 million to foreign markets through the sea route, and 786,920 tonnes worth $604.3 million were sent to the neighbouring countries through land borders.
Myanmar primarily exports black gram, green gram and pigeon peas. Of them, black gram and pigeon peas are mainly sent to India while green grams are shipped to China and Europe.
India has growing demand and consumption requirements for black gram and pigeon peas. According to a Memorandum of Understanding between Myanmar and India signed on 18 June 2022, India will import 250,000 tonnes of black gram and 100,000 tonnes of pigeon peas (tur) from Myanmar for five consecutive years from 2021-2022 financial year to 2025-2026FY. This G-to-G pact will not affect the pulses’ annual quota set by India. Myanmar’s exporters are also entitled to deliver the pulses to India under that annual quota.
The prevailing price of black gram is K1.64 million per tonne, while pigeon peas fetch K1.766 million per tonne, according to Yangon Region Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Bayintnaung Commodity Centre).
In late August, the dollar against Kyat appreciated to K4,500 in the black market. Following that, the black gram price reached a record high of K2.1 million per tonne.
Myanmar yearly produces approximately 400,000 tonnes of black gram and about 50,000 tonnes of pigeon peas. Myanmar is the top producer of the black gram that is primarily demanded by India, while pigeon peas, green grams and chickpeas are cultivated in Australia and African countries besides Myanmar. — NN/EMM