Myanmar ships over 1,000 tonnes of areca nut to Bangladesh in H1

Myanmar shipped 1,096.500 tonnes of areca nuts to Bangladesh in the first half of the current financial year 2022-2023, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
The country delivered 890.345 tonnes of areca nuts during the six months 2021-2022 mini-budget period. The export volume was up by 206.155 tonnes this FY.
Myanmar’s agriculture and livestock businesses are the mainstay of its rural community. The rural people execute areca nut farming as a family business.
The areca nuts are sent to Bangladesh through the Maungtaw border.
Fresh supply of newly harvested areca nuts brought down the prices, according to the Mawlamyine areca nut market.
Last August, the price hit K8,000 per viss (a viss equals 1.6 kilogrammes). At present, the price of new areca nut is valued at K3,300 per viss only.
Earlier, dried areca nuts were exported to India. That export came to a halt amid security threats triggered by political changes along Kalay-Tamu Road, which connects to the border post with India. As a result of this, traders are heavily relying on the domestic demand, traders said.
The farm owners are keen on selling the soft and moist areca nut fruits rather than dried ones. China primarily buys them.
Myanmar’s areca nut fruit market has become widespread. The commodity depot of areca nut fruits emerged in the producing states and regions (Rakhine, Mon and Kayin states and Taninthayi and Ayeyawady regions).
As a result of this, the dried areca nut production is likely to drop in future and the prices are likely to go up on low inventory and possible foreign demand, traders forecast. — NN/EMM