Myanmar earns over US$730 M from over 2.21 million tons of rice export

A workplace in paddy field in Khin-U Township, Sagaing Region (Photo-Htay Hla Aung)

Published 19 March 2019

Sithu Aung

Myanmar has earned US$730 million from over 2.21 million tons of rice and broken rice export from April 1, 2018 to March 1, 2019, according to Ministry of Commerce.

Myanmar earned over 1.1 million tons of rice and broken rice export worth over US$361 million via maritime trade and over 1.1 million tons of rice and broken rice export worth over US$369 million through border trade routes within about 11 months time.

Myanmar earned 1.423 million tons of rice and broken rice export worth US$551 million in 2012-13 FY, 1.262 million tons of rice and broken rice export worth US$475 million in 2013-14 FY, 1.84 million tons of rice and broken rice export worth US$660 million in 2014-15 FY, 1.493 million tons of rice and broken rice export worth US$526 million in 2015-16 FY, 1.75 million tons of rice and broken rice export worth US$553 million in 2016-17 FY, 3.576 million tons of rice and broken rice export worth US$1.136 billion in 2017-18 FY, and over 2.21 million tons of rice and broken rice export worth over US$730 million from April 1, 2018 to March 1, 2019.

Myanmar is exporting more rice via border trade routes and the amount of rice export through border trade routes is about 60 per cent of total rice export in 2012-13 FY, 72 per cent of total rice export in 2013-14 FY, 77 per cent of total rice export in 2014-15 FY, 81 per cent of total rice export in 2015-16 FY, 72 per cent of total rice export in 2016-17 FY and 52 per cent of total rice export in 2017-18 FY.

Myanmar exported over 70 per cent of its total rice export through border trade routes in previous years.

Now Myanmar can find new markets for its rice export 2017-18 FY and the amount of rice export through maritime trade routes is up to 48 per cent of total rice export. The rice export via maritime trade routes is over 50 per cent in this fiscal year.

Myanmar is expecting to export up to four million tons of rice in coming three-year time and expected to earn US$1.5 billion, according to Myanmar Rice Federation.

Myanmar found new markets for rice export in 2017-18 FY and it exported up to 90 countries. Myanmar exported rice and broken rice to 75 countries in this fiscal year.