A beans and pulses trader at the Bayintnaung Wholesale Commodity Exchange Centre in Yangon examines a plate of black gram on sale at his shop.

PRICES of beans and pulses have increased significantly since the end of August, traders at Yangon’s Bayintnaung Wholesale Commodity Exchange Centre said last week.

They said demand from India and thinning stocks are driving prices skyward. They say there is every chance that prices will continue to climb in coming months.

According to several sources within the export market, green mung bean (pedisein) has recorded the most significant rise in the past three weeks – going from K800,000 a tonne at the end of August to K1.2 million on October 21.

Black matpe, or black gram, has increased by about 30 percent from late August: On October 21, special quality ready cargo (SQRC) black matpe was K1.11 million, up from K850,000 in late August; while 1 tonne of ready cargo (RC) black matpe sold for K960,000, compared with its late August price of K750,000.

Meanwhile, toor (pigeon pea) was also not far behind, selling for K1.2 million per tonne, compared to the late August price of K1 million.

U Win Aung, an exporter at Bayintnaung, said prices for black matpe were now at record highs for this year and were also higher than the prices recorded at this time last year. By comparison he said that in October 2008, 1 tonne of black matpe (RC) was about K800,000.

He added that the demand for this year was also higher than the previous year, with a total of 900,000 tonnes of beans and pulses already exported to India since January 1, about 40pc of which was black matpe, while toor and green mung bean occupied about 30pc each.

“India is experiencing a severe drought in that country, which has led to a decline in the country’s September harvest and has inflated demand for imports,” U Win Aung said.

Another exporter who requested not to be named, agreed with U Win Aung on this year’s current export figures, adding that they were higher than last year too.

He said in September and October of last year only about 90,000 tonnes of beans and pulses had been exported but that has risen this year to about 150,000 tonnes by mid October.

However, he said the good times for exporters would only last so long.

“The market is likely to cool again by the end of November because we’re running out of stock to sell,” he said.

U Win Aung agreed that stocks of toor and green mung bean were running out fast, with black matpe not far behind.

“There could be a complete lack of toor and green mung bean in the market by the end of November and we’ll have to wait for the new harvest in the coming December and January,” he said.

In Myanmar, black matpe is harvested during February and March, while toor and green mung bean are harvested in late December and January.

Although there has been higher demand in export market, local trading is cool.
A spokesperson from Thitsar Myaing lentil warehouse in Bayintnaung, said sales had decreased by about 30pc from the previous year.

“In last October, I sold about 500 bags [each bag weighs 48 kilograms or 108 pounds] of lentils per day but for this year, I’ve sold only about 350 bags a day during this month,” he said.

Another saleswoman from Sein Tagon warehouse at the centre also said local sales of commodities had dropped during this year.

“Obviously, sales for lentils this month are lower than normal and there have been similar drops in other commodities during this year,” she said.

In the domestic lentils market, the prices of most consuming varieties like Pegyi (lablab bean) were selling for about K40,000 a bag (48kg or 108 pounds) while Pelunphyu was K30,000 and split gram (Kalape) was K35,000 per bag.