Myanmar’s Pineapple Industry Sets Sights on Chinese Market

According to local media reports, fresh pineapples from Myanmar’s Shan State, which at present are mainly sold domestically, may soon appear on the Chinese market.

Pineapples are widely cultivated in both Shan and Mon states, with particularly large growing areas in northern Shan State (2,800 hectares) and southern Shan State (2,400 hectares). Myanmar’s annual pineapple production is estimated at 30,000 to 40,000 metric tons, with the peak harvest season running from July to September. The primary varieties grown originate from Hsipaw in northern Shan State or Taiwan. Traders typically begin sourcing pineapples at production sites in early July, with most of the supply destined for markets in Mandalay and Yangon.

As early as November 2024, the General Administration of Customs of China issued an announcement permitting the import of fresh pineapples from Myanmar that meet the stipulated phytosanitary requirements. However, owing to Myanmar’s ongoing civil conflict, regions such as Chinshwehaw and Muse, as well as roads connecting northern and southern Shan State, have been blocked, making trade difficult to sustain.

Previously, Myanmar pineapples were exported to China in large volumes through a duty-free border trade scheme, originally designed to stimulate economic activity among small businesses and individuals in China’s less developed border regions. However, on June 16, 2019, Chinese authorities officially shut down this informal export channel, dealing a significant blow to Myanmar’s pineapple industry. Although exporters attempted to redirect shipments to markets such as Thailand and Singapore, the volumes have remained well below previous levels.

According to the official website of the GACC, 245 companies from Myanmar have now been approved to export pineapples to China, most of which are located in Shan State. The Myanmar Trade Promotion Organization reports that one company representing farmers in northern Shan State is planning to export pineapples to China during this harvest season. In recent years, a series of bilateral negotiations between China and Myanmar has yielded significant progress. As a result, Myanmar pineapples are now also permitted to enter the Chinese market via sea shipments.

Image: Pixabay

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.