Fresh Myanmar pineapples granted China market access

On Nov. 11, the General Administration of Customs of China announced via its website that fresh pineapples from Myanmar meeting the stipulated phytosanitary requirements would be permissible for import into China. Myanmar’s primary pineapple-growing regions are located in the northern and southern parts of Shan State, with harvests typically taking place between June and September. In the past, most of Myanmar’s pineapples were exported to China through informal cross-border trade schemes. However, on June 16, 2019, China officially put an end to this channel, leading to significant losses for Myanmar’s pineapple industry. Although exporters sought alternative markets in Thailand, Singapore and other countries, the overall export volume has remained low. Now, after years of negotiations, pineapples from Myanmar have finally been granted approval for export to China through regular trade channels. However, the ongoing civil conflict in the country has left key trade routes blocked, ...