Myanmar spurs rice export
Myanmar is planning to export up to 1.5 million tonnes of rice in the 2012-13 fiscal year, according to the Myanmar Rice Industry Association (MRIA).
Myanmar exported more than 790,000 tonnes in 2011, eighth among the top 10 rice-exporting countries.Those countries were Thailand, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Brazil, Cambodia, Uruguay, Myanmar, Argentina and China.
If Myanmar exports 1.5 million tonnes of rice during this fiscal year, it will overtake Uruguay, Cambodia and Brazil and reach fifth place.
Myanmar’s rice exports average more than 100,000 tonnes a month.
It exported almost 700,000 tonnes, worth US$260.315 million (about Bt8 billion), from April 1 to October 19, according to the country’s Commerce Ministry.
The MRIA plans to export rice from its reserves. Exports are expected to reach 1.5 million tonnes, an official of the Commerce Ministry said.
Myanmar expects rice-export volumes to reach 3 million tonnes by 2017. To achieve this, it requires increasing the per-hectare yield, MRIA general secretary Ye Min Aung said.
A tonne of Myanmar rice costs $365 in the world rice market. Thai rice is priced at $566, Vietnamese $425, Indian $410 and Pakistani $380.
