CNI News

29 Oct 2022

China Customs has permitted Myanmar companies to export corn to China through the border trade, according to Myanmar Corn Industrial Association.

As more than 80 Myanmar companies have been officially permitted, exporters will not face seizures of their goods, Vice Chairman U Thant Zin Tun told the CNI.

He told the CNI, “As China Customs asked for the GACC data, more than 80 companies submitted their data and are now permitted to export corn. They have been allowed to export corn to China by contacting Chinese companies. In the past, they exported corn to China illegally and Chinese authorities sometimes seized their crop in China. Now, they will not face such problems.”

 Corn cultivated in Myanmar. (EPA)

Corn from Myanmar is mainly exported to China, Thailand and Vietnam.

As corn can be exported through the border trade, corn farmers and merchants will have more options and be more competitive, a corn merchant told the CNI.

He said, “They will have more options. In the past, corn was exported from Myawaddy or through maritime trade or supplied to feed factories. They have three options. Before corn was exported from Myawaddy, the crop was mainly exported to China from Muse, Chin Shwe Haw and Kanpaiti. Chinese authorities seized corn imported from Myanmar in China as of 2017 and Chinese importers stopped buying corn from Myanmar. So, corn was exported from Myawaddy. Now, merchants have four options and the market is more competitive.”

 Drying corn in Myanmar. (EPA)

The MCIA has urged corn farmers, merchants and companies to place emphasis on quality and pest control.

As corn prices dropped to less than MMK 1,000 per viss even before the harvest and input costs were higher this year, corn cultivation acreage has dropped, according to farmers.

As a result, there may be corn shortages when the crop is exported and corn prices are likely to rise this year depending on the demand and crop yields, according to farmers and merchants.