Rice market in Myanmar

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, Myanmar's rice market volume declined from 26 295 thousand metric tons to 24 450 thousand metric tons, with a notable drop in 2019. This contraction coincided with ongoing challenges from the partial liberalization of rice exports, which increased overseas shipments and contributed to domestic market instability. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 prompted the government to set export quotas to ensure adequate domestic supply, helping stabilize the market volume despite disruptions in supply chains and labor availability.

Following 2020, the market recovered to 25 827 thousand metric tons by 2022. Despite political instability and value chain disruptions after the 2021 military coup, rice production demonstrated resilience during the monsoon season, supported by continued government and Myanmar Rice Federation promotion of sustainable cultivation. In 2022, the launch of the digital Myanmar Rice Online (MyRo) platform and enhanced credit access for farmers to offset high fertilizer costs aided production, though significant export growth limited further expansion of the domestic market volume.

In 2023, the market volume fell to 24 057 thousand metric tons. This decrease was partly linked to persistent challenges in financing and credit access for farmers due to difficult economic conditions. During this period, the industry continued to enforce rice warehouse registration rules and expanded value-added product manufacturing, reflecting ongoing structural modernization efforts within the sector.

Production rice in Myanmar

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Myanmar ranked 7th globally in rice production from 2017 to 2020.

Top producers of rice, 2017-2020

World map of production of rice, 2017-2020

Rice production in Myanmar declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Myanmar produced 26,400 K t of rice, representing a 1.1% decrease compared to the previous year. The largest increase occurred in 2018, when production rose by 7.6% to reach a peak of 28,016 K t. The following year, in 2019, production saw its largest decline of 4.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Myanmar in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports rice from Myanmar

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, Myanmar's rice exports totaled 1,951 K t, marking a 16.2% year-over-year decline. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 12.6%, which translates to an annualized rate of 4.4%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 1,724 K t, representing the largest decline of 22.8% that year. In contrast, exports peaked in 2019 at 2,328 K t, with the largest increase of 35.1% occurring that year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Myanmar in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Myanmar's rice export destinations were quite diverse. China accounted for 25.8% of exports in kind, Belgium for 12.4%, and Côte d'Ivoire for 6.9%. Together, these three countries represented 45.1% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Myanmar in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Myanmar's rice export value declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 773 M $ US, which is 1.2% lower than in 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value decreased by 25%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -9.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Myanmar in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the main destinations for Myanmar's rice exports in value terms were China, with 46.4% of exports, Belgium with 8.1%, and the Philippines with 4.9%. Together, these three countries accounted for 59.4% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Myanmar in value, 2017-2020

Imports rice to Myanmar

Imports in kind, K t

Myanmar's rice imports declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 2 K t, showing a significant contraction of 25.0% year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 27.8%, equating to an annualized rate of 10.3%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 3 K t, which also saw the largest increase of 17.6% that year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Myanmar in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Throughout 2017-2020, the key sources for Myanmar's rice imports in kind were South Korea, accounting for 26.0% of imports, China with 19.7%, and Thailand with 15.9%. Together, these three countries represented 61.6% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Myanmar in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Myanmar's rice import value declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 2 M $ US, marking an 18.6% year-over-year reduction. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value decreased by 37.5%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -14.5%. The highest import value was recorded in 2018 at 4 M $ US, which also experienced the largest increase of 19.0% that year. In 2019, imports saw the largest decline of 35.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Myanmar in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the three largest markets for Myanmar's rice imports in value terms were South Korea, Thailand, and China. Together, they accounted for 69.7% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Myanmar in value, 2017-2020