CNI News
17 Nov 2022
As Russia, which has signed an MoU to import fishery products from Myanmar, is likely to import hundreds of tons of shrimps from Myanmar, measures are being taken to do so, the Myanmar Fisheries Federation told the CNI.
However, it is still difficult to say exactly when we will start exporting because some details are still under negotiations, Vice Chairperson Daw Toe Nandar Tin told the CNI.
She told the CNI, "They want to import hundreds of tons of shrimps from Myanmar. It also depends on market prices and trade charges. We need to take trade charges into construction as it is impossible to export shrimps to Russia directly. If it is profitable for us after considering everything, we will export shrimps to Russia. We will have to freeze or boil and dry shrimps according to their market demand."
As Russia wants to import shrimps from Myanmar, shrimps from breeding areas including Tanintharyi Region will mainly be exported to Russia, she added.
As Panamei shrimps bred in Tanintharyi Region fetch as much as US$ 6,000 per ton, Myanmar will be able to export the shrimps to Russia only when they fetch higher prices than China, Secretary U Thet Soe of Tanintharyi Region Fisheries Federation told the CNI.
Shrimps from Tanintharyi Region.
He said, "We will have to negotiate the prices based on their bidding. We may also set the prices if they ask us. We will have to set the prices based on our breeding costs. If they pay lower prices than China, we cannot export shrimps to them due to higher transportation charges. Transportation charges must be taken into account when we export our products to Russia."
Myanmar exports between 7,000 and 8,000 tons of the shrimps to China annually but exporters have to rely on brokers. So, efforts are being made to export the shrimps to China officially.
Myanmar will have to use maritime routes to export the shrimps to Russia and shrimp breeding will be expanded in states and regions depending on the market demand, Daw Toe Nandar Tin told the CNI.
Shrimp breeding ponds in Tanintharyi Region.
She said, "We need to have market access first. When we have market access, we can negotiate everything. If market access is uncertain, we will not expand shrimp breeding. We need to expand our shrimp market not only in Russia but also in other countries. Our federation will have to work together with the government to expand the market. If we know the demands of international markets, we will develop master plans to export shrimps to international markets. At present, the market access is still uncertain and we have not expanded shrimp breeding."
Panamei shrimps are currently bred on 2,000 acres of land in Tanintharyi Region and plans are underway to breed the shrimps on 60,000 acres of land in Dawei, Myeik, Bokepyin and Kawthaung districts.
