Watermelon, muskmelon sell fast for Chinese New Year celebration
January 03, 2023
As Chinese New Year is approaching, watermelon
and muskmelon traders involved in the Muse border are doing a roaring trade and
the fruits fetch a good price.
The prevailing prices stand at 4 Yuan per kilo for
855 watermelons, and 4.7-4.8 Yuan for Taiwan watermelons and muskmelons
depending on quality.
Additionally, the demand watermelon outstripped
the supply. The fruits are selling fast.
In the third week of December last year, inferior
quality resulted in a price drop of 1.2 Yuan per kilo for 855 watermelons, 2.5
Yuan for Taiwan watermelons and 1.5-2 Yuan for seedless watermelons depending
on quality.
In the past years 2017 and 2018, poor quality
eroded customers’ trust and lost market share, traders pointed out.
Myanmar’s watermelon and muskmelon are heavily
reliant on the Chinese market. The traders grappled with China’s strict virus
policy.
Last year, the COVID-19 restrictions hindered
Myanmar’s watermelon and muskmelon exports to China. Chinese Customs Regulation
increased delay. Long delays of trucks caused harm to watermelon quality and
only one in five trucks heading to China remained undamaged with quality
watermelons.
The traders are observing delivery time, price and
profitability as they are perishable fruit, while they are trying to explore
new markets besides China.
On 1 April, Nantaw and Sinphyu border posts were
suspended in the wake of COVID-19 impacts. China has closed down the major
border crossing of Mang Wein from 30 March 2021 following the COVID-19 cases in
Myanmar.
On 8 July 2021, the two-remaining cross-border
posts Kyinsankyawt and Panseng were suspended. As a result of this, the border
trade between Myanmar and China was completely halted.
Among Sino-Myanmar border posts, Kyinsankyawt
border posts resumed operations on 26 November on a trial run.
At present, Myanmar daily delivers rice, broken
rice, rubber, various beans and pulses, fishery products, chilli pepper and
other food commodities to China through Kyinsankyawt by 100 trucks and building
materials, electrical appliances, household goods and industrial raw materials
are imported into the country by 40 trucks. — NN/EMM
No comments