December 18, 2012

Myanmar's marine fish exports to China slump by 30%

From October-December 2012, Myanmar's exports of marine-caught fish to China dropped by 30% which have made the prices to fall by a quarter.

The reduction has come despite coinciding with a Chinese festival period, when sales are usually good, said U Maung Maung Soe, chairman of the Myanmar Marine Fisheries Association on Wednesday (Dec 12).

"China buys about 60% of our saltwater fish, with Thailand taking about 10%. The rest is sold to local customers or as dried fish," he said. "Myanmar people do not like sea fish. Even a big sea fish brings in MMK600-800 (US$0.70-0.94) a viss (one viss equals 1.6 kilogrammes or 3.6 pounds) in the domestic market, with dried fish selling for MMK400-500 (US$0.47-0.58) a viss," he said.

Until recently, Chinese buyers would pay MMK20,000 (US$23) for 400 grams of groper (nga poke thin), a large saltwater fish. However, 400 grams of groper only fetches MMK15,000 (US$17.6), said one exporter.

"Our only big customer is China. Other countries do not buy a lot of saltwater fish from us, and nor do Myanmar people. I want to build a canning factory here and export canned saltwater fish to countries like Bangladesh, where they eat a lot of canned fish," the exporter added.

Myanmar Marine Fisheries Association has registered with Myanmar Livestock and Fisheries Ministry office to launch a public company with about MMK3 billion (US$3.55 million) in shares and 15 directors, said a member of MMFA.

"When we form the Myanmar Marine Fisheries company, we plan to build four factories - cold storage, ice, fish grinding and canning. But the canning factory will be the most important facility," he said.

In another setback for the industry, local fishermen are complaining of high diesel prices, said U Soe Soe, a fisherman in Bokepyinn Township in Tanintharyi Region.