“As the number of coronavirus cases started rising in China in January, exports of Myanmar’s fisheries products declined slightly in early February. Unlike with agricultural products, sales of fisheries products have not been as severely impacted,” said U Myint Than, head of the Fisheries Department, on Tuesday.

Some 4000 tonnes of marine products worth more than US$3.12 million (K4.3 billion) were exported to China via Muse border trade route from March 1 to 8. The exports were mainly pike, flounder, white pomfret, yellow pike conger, carp, puffer fish, prawns, and squid.

Exports through Chin Shwe Haw border trade point declined in February, but fishery products particularly eel and pike conger or sea eel totalling 28.23 tonnes worth US$72,075, were exported between March 1 and 8.

“Border exports of fisheries products proceeded as usual in February, as the Chin Shwe Haw border gate was only closed briefly as a precaution against the virus outbreak but re-opened in March. However, the trade through the gate is mostly for eels,” said Myanmar Fisheries Federation Vice Chair Daw Toe Nandar Tin.

Up to February 28 of the current fiscal year, Myanmar fishery products worth US$415.3 million were exported compared with US$361.5 million in same period last year, mainly to China, according to trade figures from the Ministry of Commerce. – Translated

Source: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/fisheries-exports-not-badly-hit-agriculture-virus.html