HOUSE OF THE WEEK
Unfinished project in South Okkalapa tsp
THIS two-storey house in South Okkalapa township represents unfinished business. more
Honey exporters seek sweeter deals
(Volume 26, No. 512)
BEEKEEPERS are abuzz with the possibilities of expanding the international market for their honey. But despite a swarm of new producers, and the doubling of the number of beehives in the country, beekeepers will have to get busy in order to expand their share of the international market, industry experts say.
Myanmar Apiculture Association chairman U Pyae Phyo Aung told The Myanmar Times that association membership increased from 165 to 284 in 2009, while the number of beehives soared from 25,000 to 44,335.
“In 2008-2009, total honey production in Myanmar was 1500 metric tonnes, of which 1375 tonnes went for export and the rest was consumed locally,” he said. Most of the export volume – 1270 tonnes – went to Japan, the rest to China, bringing in a total of US$1.44 million. As of September 2009, a total of 536 tonnes, worth about half a million dollars, had been exported.
But although Myanmar honey has a good reputation, the task now is to find more markets for a quality product. So beekeepers are consulting experts, finding new customers and upgrading the quality of their honey.
In 2009, the association invited an apiculture expert from Germany to advise on improving the quality of export honey. They have also invested in technology.
“To upgrade quality, the association will build mixing tanks that will contain 20 tonnes of honey. We are also trying to get back our share of the Japanese market, since we had no orders from there last year because of oversupply,” said U Pyae Phyo Aung.
And exporters are eyeing South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand as possible customers.
Dr Saw Aung Myint, an apiculture consultant who worked for more than 20 years in the Division of Apiculture, has recommended participating in international trade fairs as well as broadening the customer base.
“We should not only depend on the Japanese market, but should try to expand. At the same time we have to produce a quality product that is acceptable on the international market. Beekeeping is a good business that can make large profits with relatively little initial outlay,” he said.
The distinctive taste of Myanmar’s honeys is said to be due to the four plants mainly used in its production: plum (jujube), sunflower, niger and pinku htak pake, which grows in Shan State. The mellifera honey bees that produce it were imported from Europe as local bees are not very productive. But the moisture content in Myanmar honey is too high, at more than 23 percent, because of heavy rain – the ideal is 21pc. It is also important to reduce as far as possible the content of the chemical called HMF (hydromethylfurfuradehyde), which is thought to have a carcinogenic effect.
“We can produce bee pollen, royal jelly and so on. At the moment we have no buyers for those products, so we should find a market for them” said Dr Saw Aung Myint.
Last year, international honey prices reached $1100-$1200 per tonne. But China exports honey for $800 per tonne, sending about 2000 tonnes a year to Japan.
“This year production is good, but orders are still not yet back to normal after the recession. Some companies export to China across the border. This year we have to sell at a lower price to compete with China, so profits will be down. Japan pays well, but we have to find other markets. We should consider getting into Europe. But first we have to register our product there.” said Dr Kyi Lwin Oo, a member of the Apiculture Association.
U Kyaw Swar Aung, director of Welcome General Trading, one of the country’s biggest beekeeping and honey exporting companies, said the company produced honey itself, and bought from other reliable beekeepers for export. The company exports honey to Japan, Korea and China.
