Watermelon fetches good price during late season

Watermelons exported to China are offered at a high price at the end of the watermelon season, fruit traders involved in the Muse trade zone said.
The prevailing prices of watermelons are 40,000-70,000 yuan per 15-tonne truck.
“The watermelon prices remain high when the season ends. The prices of watermelon from Shan State rebound on maturity stage and high quality. The outright purchase of 855 watermelon varieties is on the rise,” Sai Khin Maung from Khwanyo fruit depot emphasized.
Additionally, fruits are moved from border trade to normal trade under the 2.0 system on China’s side. Therefore, exporters are still closely observing the impacts on fruit exports, he continued.
“China has commenced customs duty payment with the 2.0 system for fruit imports via normal trade. If there is more than a 300-kilogramme gap for weight measurement of watermelon, muskmelon and mango fruit trucks stated on the QR code, the trucks are not permitted. China asked the brokers, growers and freight forwarders to carefully check the tonnage mentioned in the QR code (trade net licence) with the actual weight,” he added.
Myanmar’s watermelon and muskmelon are heavily reliant on the Chinese market. The traders struggled with China’s strict policy sometimes.
In early February, tight inspections by the Chinese Customs hindered truck transport. That being so, only 20-30 trucks were able to pass the checkpoint despite the delays amid the high prices of watermelons and muskmelons.
Consequently, watermelon was sold out at the depots on the China side and more than 500 trucks queued in line on the Myanmar side.
In 2021, the COVID-19 restrictions hindered Myanmar’s watermelon and muskmelon exports to China. Chinese Customs Regulation increased delay. Long delays of trucks caused harm to watermelon quality and only one in five trucks heading to China remained undamaged with quality watermelons.
The traders are observing delivery time, price and profitability as they are perishable fruit, while they are trying to explore new markets besides China.
On 1 April, Nantaw and Sinphyu borders were suspended in the wake of COVID-19 impacts. China has closed down the major border crossing Mang Wein from 30 March 2021 following the COVID-19 cases in Myanmar.
On 8 July 2021, the two-remaining cross-border points Kyinsankyawt and Panseng were suspended. As a result of this, the border trade between Myanmar and China was completely halted.
Among the Sino-Myanmar border points, the Kyinsankyawt border resumed operations on 26 November 2021.
Trade activity at the Muse-Mang Wein crossing point, which performed the majority of trade between Myanmar and China, resumed on 14 January 2023. Additionally, other goods except agricultural products (watermelon, muskmelon), minerals and fisheries products are allowed to be sent to China through that border point.
Additionally, Nantaw and Sinphyu, which are major border crossings, were reopened on 25 January 2023.
At present, Myanmar daily delivers rice, broken rice, rubber, various beans and pulses, fishery products, chilli pepper and other food commodities to China through the Kyinsankyawt border. — NN/EM