Required Report - public distribution

**Date:** 9/19/2005

**GAIN Report Number:** BM5023

BM5023

**Burma**

**Grain and Feed**

**Beans and Pulses Monthly Trade Report - August**

**2005**

**Approved by:**

Rodrick McSherry, Agricultural ![](media/image1.wmf)Counselor

U.S. Embassy, Bangkok

**Prepared by:**

Daphne Khin Swe Swe Aye, Agricultural Specialist

**Report Highlights:**

Burma exported 75,578 metric tons of beans and pulses in August 2005, up
58 percent from the same period in 2004. India was the major buyer in
August, accounting for 60 percent of total exports, followed by China
(18 percent). National Research Council of Thailand signed an agreement
with the Myanmar Agricultural Service to examine soybean production in
hopes of creating exportable supplies for Thailand's market.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Trade Report

Bangkok \[TH1\]

\[BM\]

# Trade

Burma exported 75,578 metric tons (mt) of beans and pulses in August
2005, up 58 percent from the same period in 2005, due mainly to
increased demand from importing countries. Matpe accounted for 41
percent of the total exports, followed by Toor Whole (36 percent) and
Mung bean (13 percent). India and China are the major buyers in August,
accounting for 60 percent and 18 percent of the total exports,
respectively.

[Bangladesh]{.underline} -- a total of 1,045 mt of beans and pulses
exported:

960 mt of Matpe

8 mt of Lab beans

77 mt of various beans

[Belgium]{.underline} -- a total of 396 mt of beans and pulses exported:

396 mt of Toor Whole (Pigeon pea)

[China]{.underline} - a total of 13,764 mt of beans and pulses exported:

9,130 mt of Mung beans

4,634 mt of Matpe

[Czech Republic]{.underline} -- a total of 23 mt of beans and pulses
exported

23 mt of Kidney beans

[Hong Kong]{.underline} -- a total of 69 mt of beans and pulses
exported:

69 mt of Mung beans

[India]{.underline} - a total of 45,291 mt of beans and pulses exported:

> 13,759 mt of Matpe

517 mt of Mung beans

240 mt of Black eye beans

26,502 mt of Toor Whole (Pigeon pea)

2,609 mt of Kidney beans

1,592 mt of Chickpeas

72 mt of various beans

[Indonesia]{.underline} -- a total of 92 mt of beans and pulses
exported:

92 mt of Brown beans

[Italy]{.underline} -- a total of 24 mt of beans and pulses exported:

24 mt of Mung beans

[Japan]{.underline} - a total of 150 mt of beans and pulses exported:

> 63 mt of Matpe
>
> 45 mt of Butter beans (Lima beans)

42 mt of various beans

####### Korea -- a total of 83 mt of beans and pulses exported:

63 mt of Black eye beans

20 mt of Sutani/pya (Red Lima beans)

[Latvia]{.underline} -- a total of 23 mt of beans and pulses exported:

23 mt of Kidney beans

[Malaysia]{.underline} - a total of 253 mt of beans and pulses exported:

161 mt of Matpe

92 mt of Mung beans

####### Netherlands - a total of 140 mt of beans and pulses exported:

#######  20 mt of Mung beans

#######  120 mt of Toor Whole (Pigeon pea) 

[Nepal]{.underline} -- a total of 48 mt of beans and pulses exported:

48 mt of Matpe

[Pakistan]{.underline} - a total of 11,673 mt of beans and pulses
exported:

9,419 mt of Matpe

1,846 mt of Chickpeas

288 mt of Black eye beans

120 mt of Toor Whole

####### Portugal -- a total of 46 mt of beans and pulses exported:

46 mt of Black eye beans

####### Sri Lanka -- a total of 578 mt of beans and pulses exported:

578 mt of Kidney beans

[Singapore]{.underline} - a total of 166 mt of beans and pulses
exported:

120 mt of Matpe

46 mt of Mung beans

[Thailand]{.underline} -- a total of 347 mt of beans and pulses
exported:

240 mt of Mung beans

54 mt of Brown beans

53 mt of various beans

[Taiwan]{.underline} -- a total of 23 mt of beans and pulses exported:

23 mt of Mung beans

[UAE]{.underline} - a total of 912 mt of beans and pulses exported:

> 912 mt of Matpe

####### Vietnam - a total of 432 mt of beans and pulses exported:

432 mt of Matpe

  ---------------------------------- ----------------- -------------------
  Beans and Pulses Exports (mt)      2004              2005

  January                            59,450            37,528

  February                           85,062            51,171

  March                              131,179           71,433

  April                              129,001           56,153

  May                                139,895           62,878

  June                               98,906            92,430

  July                               68,992            64,063

  August                             47,786            75,578

  September                          30,748            

  October                            34,080            

  November                           45,107            

  December                           35,584            

  TOTAL                              905,790           511,234

                                                       
  ---------------------------------- ----------------- -------------------

# Prices

Export prices set for beans and pulses by the Price Appraisal Committee
that met in August 2005 are:

FAQ= Fair Average Quality SQ= Super Quality

Matpe (FAQ) US\$ 340-360

Matpe (SQ) US\$ 400-420

Butter beans (Lima beans) (FAQ) US\$ 320-340

Mung beans (FAQ) US\$ 415-435

Toor Whole (Pigeon pea) (FAQ) US\$ 330-350

Note: Average exchange rate in August: one US\$= Kyat 1,150

**Export prospects**

Trading activities of beans and pulses were active, except for Matpe,
due to high demand for export. However, decreased border trade demand
from China depressed market prices in Mandalay to some extent.

Trade sources reported that China became one of major buyers of Burmese
mung beans at the expense of exports to India for the first time since
CY 2002/03. Prices for good quality mung beans exported to Shweli, a
Chinese town along the Burmese-Chinese border, reached at US\$ 520. In
general, exports of beans and pulses to China are mostly via border
trade.

Myanma Agriculture Service (MAS), an agency of the Ministry of
Agriculture and Irrigation, signed an agreement with National Research
Council of Thailand (NRCT) on a soybean production project on July 15,
2005. Thailand will conduct a test of planting 11 species of soybean
seed in 16 plots in Bago, Rangoon, Irrawaddy, and Shan State. In
addition, the project also plans to conduct plantings in six test plots
in Mandalay, Magwe and Sagaing Divisions. A group of Burmese officials
will be provided training in Thailand. If the result of these field
trials proves commercially viable, Thailand will promote sizable soybean
production in Burma for export back to Thailand. Soybean consumption in
Thailand is almost 2 million tons per annum, most of which is met by
soybean imported from the U.S. and Argentina. As supplies from Burma are
likely to be less expensive than those from the U.S., this effort may
pose a threat to U.S. soybean exports to Thailand in the future.

End of Report.