Burmese watermelons have started to be exported, and the price at the place of origin has increased by 40% compared to the same period last year!

This harvest season, the export of Burmese watermelons and cantaloupes to China has officially commenced recently. Contrary to industry expectations, the traditional core channel, the Muse border crossing, did not open as scheduled, and all exported goods must now travel to China via the Mengla-Tachileik border trade route. Compared to the Muse route, the new route significantly increases the transportation distance, directly causing the transportation cost per ton to rise by about 30%. This change has a particularly severe impact on watermelons during the rainy season—these watermelons have a poor storage capacity, and the bumps and temperature changes during long-distance transportation easily cause them to rot, with a loss rate higher than the same period last year by 15-20%. Despite the limited route, the acceptance of Burmese watermelons in the Chinese market has not been significantly affected. Currently, the terminal market selling price remains in a stable range of 5-6 yuan/kg, basically unchanged from the same period last year. The Tachileik Customs has simultaneously optimized the inspection process for agricultural products, implementing "priority inspection and immediate release" for fresh produce such as watermelons, compressing the clearance time for a single batch of goods to about 2 hours. However, due to the constraints of transportation efficiency, the total export volume has not yet formed a scale, with the daily clearance volume at the Tachileik border being only 1/4 of the normal volume at the Muse border during its regular period. This harvest season, the price of Burmese watermelons has seen a significant increase, with the watermelons in the Depayin area of Magway Province showing the most prominent price increase compared to the same period last year. Medium-sized watermelons are priced at 5.6-8.4 yuan/piece, while high-quality large watermelons have climbed to 14-19.6 yuan/piece, a 40% increase from the highest price last year. In the Myaungmya District of Ayeyarwady Region, thanks to the price increase and strong local market demand, local watermelons have entered a hot sales period since the third week of November, with high-quality watermelons having no worries about sales, attracting a large number of buyers from Botsein, Yangon, and other places. Over a hundred farmers in 14 sandy land villages in this area, each planting 1-5 acres of watermelons, are now nearly sold out. Data shows that since the watermelons were put on the market in this area, the daily trading volume has reached about 80 tons, with 30% sold to major cities like Yangon, and 70% consumed locally, achieving a balance between production and sales without relying on exports. More than ten years ago was the "golden age" for Burmese watermelons, with watermelons exported to China via the Muse border crossing enjoying favorable prices during the border trade boom. In the 2016-2017 harvest season, the export volume of watermelons reached 660,000 tons, with an export value of over 60 million US dollars. Subsequently, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the turmoil in the border political situation, the export volume dropped significantly, and the industry gradually declined. Now, with the situation improving, the industry is eager to return to normal. The Muse border crossing previously accounted for about 90% of the Sino-Myanmar border trade, but it has not yet reopened for watermelon exports, and the current export route restrictions still bring considerable pressure. It is estimated that transporting via the Mengla-Tachileik route increases the transportation cost by 1.2 yuan per kilogram of watermelon; after deducting the losses, the export profit rate has decreased by about 25% compared to the Muse route period. Image source: pixabay 2025 International Fruit and Vegetable Report reserves all rights. For reprinting, please contact the International Fruit and Vegetable Report for permission and credit the source as the International Fruit and Vegetable Report.