Myanmar’s Seintalone mango seeks seamless trade with China
MYANMAR Seintalone mango will lose
market share unless it can be delivered to China this year, according to
Khwarnyo Fruit Depot of Mandalay.
Trade disruption to China has left a
sour taste for Myanmar Seintalone growers. Myanmar’s Seintalone mango variety
fetches a good price in the domestic market. Yet, an abundant supply is
unmatched with domestic demand, said an official of the depot.
Furthermore, domestic demand for
Myanmar Seintalone also falls by 50 per cent. There is no trade route for them
to the main buyer, China, at present. Growers will be battered by losing
market share if Myanmar cannot export Seintalone mango to China this season.
Other countries might gain more export market shares, he continued.
Exporters did not even cover the cost
while exporting Seintalone to China at the beginning of the mango season.
Officials of the Mandalay Region Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MRCCI) and
the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Dehong Prefecture discussed matters
to facilitate Myanmar’s mango export to China at the MRCCI’s office in late
2024, in the presence of mango growers.
They highlighted the fast delivery of
Myanmar’s mango to China through possible road channels, smooth customs
clearance, and exploration of potential trade channels. Moreover, they
coordinated on matters regarding trade barriers that exporters experienced on
the Kengtung-Mongla-Dalo road channels, including tax and freight shipping
time.
The traders are bracing for transport
hurdles, such as rough roads and extreme weather conditions, that affect the
quality of the fruits. Therefore, there seems to be no other option than Muse
Road during the mango season, the Khwanyo Fruit Depot observed.
Consequently, exporters face big
challenges depending on the export channel and fruit quality, according to the
Khwanyo Fruit Trading Depot.
The high cost of cultivation inputs hit
growers. Last year, low use of cultivation inputs affected quality, causing postharvest
diseases such as stem end rot and black spots in fruit. Some traders did not
even cover the cultivation cost due to the inferior quality of Seintalone
mango. Of about 200 mango varieties that originated in Myanmar, Seintalone,
Shwehintha, Padamya Ngamauk, Yinkwe, and Machitsu varieties are primarily
grown. The foreign market prefers Seintalone varieties. Ayeyawady Region
possesses the most extensive mango plantation acres, having about 46,000
acres. Bago Region is the second largest producer, with 43,000 acres, and
Mandalay has 29,000 acres of mango. There are over 24,000 acres in Kayin State,
over 20,400 acres in Shan State and over 20,000 acres in Sagaing Region,
according to the association. — NN/KK
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