Indonesia domi­nates Myanmar’s rice exports with over 605,000 tonnes, outpacing China and other major importers in the financial year 2024-2025.

INDONESIA is the leading import­er of Myanmar’s rice with over 605,000 tonnes in the previous fi­nancial year 2024-2025 (from 1 April to 31 March), according to the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF).

China is the second largest import­er of Myanmar rice with over 516,000 tonnes, followed by 355,000 tonnes to Belgium, over 134,000 to the Philippines, 105,000 to Bangladesh, over 96,600 to Senegal, over 60,800 to Cote D’Ivoire, 57,200 to Poland, over 48,600 to Spain, over 44,200 to Mozambique, over 27,100 to Cameroon, 22,800 to the UK, 20,000 to the Netherlands, over 17,000 to Togo and over 16,100 to Italy.

Myanmar’s rice and broken rice exports hit over 2.48 million tonnes in the last FY 2024-2025, with an estimat­ed value of $1.129 billion, statistics of the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) showed.

The federation aimed to achieve 2.5 million tonnes of rice exports in FY 2024-2025.

The Ministry of Commerce has been cooperating with departments and insti­tutions concerned to achieve monthly export targets and beyond, depending on the supply volume of rice, broken rice, pulses, corn, rubber and fisheries from the respective companies.

The Ministry of Commerce is work­ing together with the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Myanmar Rice Federa­tion, Myanmar Pulses, Beans, Maize and Sesame Seeds Merchants Associ­ation, Myanmar Garment Manufactur­ers Association, Myanmar Industries Association, Myanmar Rubber Planters and Producers Association, Myanmar Fisheries Products Processors and Ex­porters Association to meet monthly export targets and facilitate exports.

It was projected to achieve 2.5 mil­lion tonnes of rice export in the FY 2023- 2024 and to generate earnings of one billion dollars. However, rice exports fell short of the target with 1.6 million tonnes worth $845 million.

The Central Bank of Myanmar’s monetary policy to control export earn­ings impeded rice exports, hurting ex­porters financially. The El Nino weather condition also hampered rice export, the president of the Myanmar Rice Feder­ation affirmed.

Myanmar exported 2,261,203 tonnes of rice and broken rice to foreign trade partners in the past 2022-2023 FY (April- March), with an estimated value of $853.472 million. — NN/KK