Taninthayi marine exports surging to boost foreign earnings

TANINTHAYI Region, which produces the largest volume of marine products in Myanmar, generates foreign income annually through marine exports. If marine products can be exported directly over­seas, foreign earnings can increase significant­ly beyond current levels, according to the region’s Fisheries Federation.

The marine products from Taninthayi Region, including tiger prawns, lobsters, sea snails, and live fish, are transported by sea to Thailand and then exported onward to China by air.

If direct air export routes from Myeik Air­port become available, the export sector can gain substantial econom­ic benefits.

“The marine prod­ucts from Taninthayi Region are exported to China through Thailand. If direct exports to China become possible, foreign income would increase significantly. The Pres­ident has already ar­ranged for cargo aircraft to land at Myeik Airport and for cargo terminal fa­cilities to be established. However, Myeik Airport would need to become an international airport like Yangon or Mandalay airports so that foreign aircraft can land con­veniently. If the marine products have to be trans­ported first to Yangon Air­port by Myanmar Nation­al Airlines before being shipped to China, trans­port costs would become much higher. Therefore, if direct exports from Myeik Airport become possible, foreign earnings could more than double com­pared to current levels,” said U Thet Soe, secre­tary of the federation.

In saltwater prod­uct exports, live seafood shipments generate higher foreign earnings. If Myeik Airport develops into an international air­port, Myanmar’s various marine products can be exported directly, while tax-paid Chinese goods can flow into Taninthayi Region as imports, cre­ating mutual trade ben­efits for both countries. China Southern Airlines, which currently oper­ates daily flights for the Guangzhou-Yangon route, announced that begin­ning 15 June, it will add new flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Satur­days, increasing oper­ations to 10 flights per week. If such airlines can also operate flights to Myeik Airport, it can further support bilateral trade development be­tween the two countries.

Among the marine exports of the coun­try, Taninthayi Region earned US$303.628 mil­lion in 2024-2025 financial year, whereas US$287.971 million in 2025-2026 finan­cial year. The increase in foreign earnings during the 2024-2025 financial year was attributed to higher export volumes, stable fuel prices for offshore fishing opera­tions, and stable export prices for marine prod­ucts. If seafood products from Taninthayi Region can be directly exported overseas, it will provide major support for the state’s economic growth and increased foreign earnings. — Nyein Thu (MNA)/KTZH