Myanmar has exported more than 900,000 tons of rice and broken rice for the year until the end of December, reported the Ministry of Commerce.
“We already exported more than 900,000 tons of rice and broken rice. It is a good sign for the country,” Yan Naing Tun, the director-general of the Trade Department said.
“Our ministry is expanding foreign markets to export rice. We have offers from Kenya, one of the countries from the African rice market, to buy Myanmar rice. Banking matters are still under negotiation,” Yan Naing Tun said.
“Our minister was had offers from Kenya during his visit. Indonesia and the Philippines are the same matter. The banking system is not OK for Kenya and so financial transaction are still under negotiation,” Yan Naing Tun added.
Rice exports to China decreased due to November clashes between Tatmadaw and ethnic armed groups that broke out in Muse. Therefore, the government planned to export rice to other foreign markets by sea.
Africa and the EU are currently purchasing rice from Myanmar, according to the Myanmar Rice Industry. About 60,000 tonnes of rice is being exported to the African market each month.
Myanmar rice is exported to China through the Muse border trade zone. Rice is being exported to more than 30 foreign countries by ship.
The Myanmar-China border trade zones exported 25,000 tonnes of rice worth US$8million from December 10 to 16, 2016. The Muse border trade zone exported more than 2,000 tonnes of fish paste and 15,674 tonnes of rice, Chinshwehaw, 701 tonnes of rice, Lwejel, and 6,874 tonnes of rice, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
Source: Eleven Myanmar
