Myanmar pulse exports exceed 740,000 tonnes, worth US$642M by 12 July

Myanmar has bagged more than US$642 million from over 743,000 tonnes of pulses as of 12 July in the current financial year 2024-2025, beginning 1 April, the Ministry of Commerce’s statistics showed.
Myanmar’s pulses export by sea amounted to over 718,160 tonnes of pulses worth $621.376 million, whereas over 25,194 tonnes of pulses worth $21.078 million were sent to the neighbouring countries over the past three months.
The value of Myanmar’s pulses exports hit over US$1.484 billion from over 1.76 million tonnes in the previous FY 2023-2024 (March 2023-April 2024), comprising 1.6 million tonnes worth $1.34 billion through maritime trade and 157,400 tonnes worth $141.38 through border posts, the Ministry of Commerce’s statistics indicated.
Myanmar mainly exports black grams, green grams and pigeon peas to foreign markets. Of them, black grams and pigeon peas are primarily shipped to India, while green grams are exported to China and Europe.
India has growing demand and consumption requirements for black grams and pigeon peas. According to a Memorandum of Understanding between Myanmar and India signed on 18 June 2021, India will import 250,000 tonnes of black grams and 100,000 tonnes of pigeon peas (tur) from Myanmar for five consecutive years from 2021-2022 financial year to 2025-2026 FY. This G-to-G pact will not affect the pulses’ annual quota set by India. Myanmar’s exporters are also entitled to deliver the pulses to India under that yearly quota. Myanmar’s black gram output is estimated at 400,000 tonnes per year, whereas pigeon pea production crosses 50,000 tonnes.
The Myanmar Pulses, Beans, Maize and Sesame Seeds Merchants Association stated that black grams, which India primarily purchases, are commonly found only in Myanmar, whereas pigeon peas, green gram and chickpeas are grown in African countries and Australia. — NN/KK