Rice farmers are over reliant on the Chinese market, Myanmar Rice Federation heard at its annual general meeting at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The northern giant takes 93 per cent of Myanmar’s rice.
The Customs Department said by January 28 this financial year, maritime exports reached 66,400 tonnes (7.3 per cent) and 840,800 tonnes left across its borders. Efforts to diversify to other markets, including the European Union, were making slow progress, according to a study by Aung Than Oo, chairperson of Myanmar Rice Merchants’ Association.
Exports to China were always vulnerable to Beijing’s crackdowns, it said.
The meeting criticised China for asking for rice to be held in warehouses along the border and requiring third-party certificates.