Myanmar shipped 926.9 metric tonnes of honey to foreign trade partners in the past four months from April to July in the current financial year 2023- 2024, according to the Apiculture Division under the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department.
Myanmar exported 100.41 MT of honey to foreign markets in April, 336.7 MT in May, 80.4 MT in June and 409.4 MT in July respectively.
Myanmar has delivered honey to the Republic of Korea, Japan, the US and Singapore. Myanmar’s beekeeping businesses are mostly found in Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, Magway Region and Shan State.
Myanmar produces sesame honey, jujube honey, niger honey, sunflower honey, lychee honey and flower honey.
Honey is utilized as traditional medicines in the country, while it also generates foreign income from exports.
There are some state-owned beekeeping stations with 6,200 beehives and about 820 private beekeeping businesses operating with nearly 200,000 beehives. Apiculture and honey production businesses are primarily found in Sagaing, Mandalay and Magway regions and Shan State.
Moreover, two million acres of crops yearly contribute to bee pollination every year. This year, 11 per cent of sunflower acreage is designated for pollen sources.
Additionally, beekeeping businesses near the crop fields contribute to the successful yield of the crop as well as quality honey.
Myanmar annually produces about 7,000 MT of honey, with a production capacity of 70 pounds per beehive. Approximately 2,600 MT of honey are conveyed to foreign markets every year. Myanmar’s honey is priced at $1,600 per tonne.
More than 1,900 MT of honey were shipped to external markets in the 2022-2023 FY, with an estimated value of over $2.8 million.
Myanmar exported 1,853.74 MT to foreign markets by sea and 63.44 MT to neighbouring countries via cross-border. — NN/EM
