CNI News
1 December 2023
Due to the difficulty of the export route to the Chinese border, domestic corn prices have declined, according to corn traders. The price of corn is currently less than 20,000 kyats although the price was more than 20,000 kyats in the past.
As a result of battles between the Tatmadaw and the Three Brotherhood Alliance in northern Shan State, it is difficult to export corn produced in Shan State to the Chinese border as well as to the Yangon and Mandalay markets.
So, corn prices are coming down If the road difficulties continued like that, the price of corn might continue to fall, an official from the Northern Shan State Corn Industrial Association, told CNI News.
" Normally, now is not yet the time when the price of corn falls. The price tends to decline by the end of December. We can't go through Chin Shwe Haw and Muse in northern Shan State due to the battles. It's not convenient to go from Lashio to Mandalay. If you go via southern Shan State the transportation fee is three or four times more. You can't go to the border any more. Moreover, You can't go from Lashio to Mandalay as well. So, the corn price will go on declining." he said.
While seeing corn plants
Currently, corns produced only in Shan State are being sold and corns have been grown in Ayeyarwady Region not very lang ago.
When the corns produced in Ayeyarwady Region start appearing, since it is a period of duty-free export to Thailand, farmers are worried that the price will decline.
The traders who will store are buying the corn in the domestic market, including other demands. The corns produced in northern Shan State cannot be sold for the time being. When the corns were exported to Thailand duty free, the corns would accumulate more than last year, Ko Min Khaing, a corn farmer from Ayeyarwady Region, told CNI News.
" When one trade route is suspended, we haven't been able to export the corns to Thailand through Myawady. At present, the corns are being mainly sold in the domestic market only. So, the corn price is leading downward only. Although the corn hasn't appeared yet in our region, there will be impact on us. The traders or farmers in Shan State don't sell their corns. Later, the corn from Ayeyarwady Region will appear. When the prices will be good a bit, the corns will be plentiful as well. The corns are being exported to many countries by road or by sea. But when the corns are exported to Thailand, the amount will probably be more than previous years." said Ko Min Khaing.
At present, the world corn price is declining and Corn demand will increase when the corn appears from Ayeyarwady Region and corns are exported to Thailand duty free.
So, the domestic corn price could increase, according to the Myanmar Corn Industrial Association. Because the export policy relating to corn could be changed, traders are watching the situation.
