MYANMAR’S export of animal products between 1 October and 24 January in the current financial year reached US$50 million, a sharp drop from $233.95 million registered in the corresponding period of the 2018-2019FY.
In the current fiscal, animal products exports have been solely driven by the private sector. Prior to the Chinese New Year and the coronavirus outbreak, the live cattle export market at Muse had cooled, leaving more than 3,000 heads of cattle stranded in the border area and causing difficulties to traders.
Traders usually transport 20- 25 heads of cattle per 12-wheeled truck from Mandalay to Muse gate. The live cattle have to undergo an inspection at the 16th mile gate, Yebyu gates, and the animal disease surveillance station near Pakyu Village in Kutkai Township. Officials check whether the livestock meet the export standards and a health certificate has been issued for them.
Normally, a large cow fetches over K1.8-2.2 million, but trade suspension often leads to Chinese traders resorting to price manipulation and offering lower prices.
“We prefer a Government-to-Government agreement for live cattle trade as it can benefit both the traders and the two countries. While cattle exports are legal in Myanmar, livestock trade is still not permitted by China, leading to traders incurring debts. If there is a legitimate market for cattle exports, we can get a good price and a regular market. We are hoping for it to happen,” said traders from Kyaukse Township. In the previous fiscal, animal products exports were registered at $178.28 million.
Myanmar has held a series of negotiations with China at the Joint Border Trade Cooperation and Coordinating Committee (JBTCC) meetings on legal exports of cattle and cross-border control of communicable diseases.
Myanmar, which allowed livestock trade in late 2017, is now exploring new export markets for cattle. The country exports cattle that are above five years old. The cattle are exported along with vaccination certificates, health certificates, and farming registration certificates.
According to the 2018 cattle census, there are 11.5 million heads of cattle in the country. According to trade figures, between the 2017-2018FY and the month of October in the current FY, more than 460,000 heads of cattle, worth over $581 million, have been exported to China through Muse. The authorities have issued cattle export licenses to more than 300 companies in Magway Region. There are around 5,000 companies holding cattle export licenses across the country. — Ko Khant
(Translated by Ei Myat Mon)
