Strong foreign demand makes butter bean market bustling

The price of butter beans jumped on the back of strong foreign demand in recent days, Mandalay bean traders said.
The Upper Myanmar region is the largest supplier of butter beans. Last year, the price was K180,000-K200,000 per three-basket bag of butter beans, whereas it significantly soared to K300,000-K320,000 per bag depending on the different sizes, according to Soe Win Myint depot.
“The butter bean fetches a good price in recent days. The farmers store only seeds for cultivation and the traders are keeping the butter bean stocks in their hands. In addition to foreign demand, there is a high consumption of butter beans locally. They are yearly shipped to China, India, Japan and Europe. Lately, they are mostly purchased by China and India. The Japanese and European market prefers large sizes of butter beans. It is a winter crop. The demand has grown year over year,” Soe Win Myint elaborated.
The butter beans are primarily grown in the central regions of Myanmar, mostly found in Minbu, Sinphyu and Salin in Magway Region, Mahlaing, Taungtha and Natogyi in Mandalay and Gangaw, Kalay, Kalewa, Shwebo and Kabaw Valley areas in Sagaing Region. — Min Htet Aung/EM