Browse Data and Analysis

Since Burma initiated a series of political and economic reforms in 2011, U.S. agricultural exports have grown over 80-fold, reaching a record $174 million in 2019 and $167 million in 2020 despite the COVID-19 situation.

Post forecasts higher Burmese rice exports in December. This forecast anticipates active demand from Africa, China, and EU countries during the new crop harvest and the reopening of Burma-China border gates.

On November 9, Burma published new negative import lists that indicate the products required to have import licenses with notification 18/2021, which included apples, grapes, oranges, pears and butter and milk products.

Post forecasts higher Burma’s rice export in November in anticipation of active demand from China and EU countries during harvest of the new crop.

There are no significant developments to convey since the previous report from October 2020. Although Burma (also called Myanmar) does not yet have a comprehensive biosafety legislation, the final version of the National Biosafety Framework and Biosafety Guidelines are completed and pending approval.

Post forecasts Burma’s rice export lower in October due to the continued closure of all border checkpoints along the Burma-China border, poor demand from African and EU countries, and high shipping costs.

The military coup continues to negatively impact Burma’s economy, and the value of the Myanmar Kyat hit record lows in September. Arriving shipments, however, are being cleared and are not facing many clearance challenges.

Post forecasts Burma’s rice exports lower in September due to the continued closure of all border checkpoints along the Burma-China border, poor demand from African and EU countries, and high shipping costs.

Global lentil exports in 2020 jumped from $1 billion to $2.6 billion compared to the year before. Canada and Australia led the surge, accounting for more than three-fourths of the exports. Lentil exports peaked at $2.7 billion in 2015 but drifted lower through 2019, primarily due to reduced shipments from Canada to India and Turkey and from the United States to Canada and India.

Post forecasts lower rice exports in August due to the closure of all border checkpoints along the Burma-China border and poor demand from African and EU countries.

Burma’s corn production is estimated at 2.57 million metric tons in both MY 2020/21 and MY 2021/22 due to high price incentives.

The military coup continues to negatively impact Burma’s economy. Arriving shipments, however, are being cleared, and trade is continuing in some fashion or another.