Sorghum market in Myanmar

Earlier Report Observations

The Myanmar government's Agriculture Development Strategy and Investment Plan (2018-23) initiated efforts to enhance productivity and climate resilience in farming, providing a policy foundation for sorghum cultivation. Market volume declined to 152 thousand tons in 2019 but rebounded strongly to 176 thousand tons in 2020.

By 2021, the sorghum market showed signs of recovery with improved average yields, though domestic volume fell to 159 thousand tons as exports surged to 6.6 thousand tons. The market stabilized around 158 thousand tons in 2022 under continued high export levels.

A key development in September 2023 was Myanmar's approval of U.S. sorghum imports, facilitated by public-private partnerships to supply the feed industry, coinciding with a market volume increase to 166 thousand tons. Into 2024, trade facilitation continued alongside growing consumer preference for health-conscious foods, boosting demand for sorghum-based products, while logistics improvements reduced distribution costs.

Production sorghum in Myanmar

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Myanmar ranked as the 29th largest sorghum producer in the world.

Top producers of sorghum, 2017-2020

World map of production of sorghum, 2017-2020

After two consecutive years of decline, Myanmar's sorghum production rebounded in 2020. The country produced 176.2 thousand tons that year, representing a solid 16.1% increase compared to 2019. Looking at the entire 2017-2020 period, production decreased by 15.9%, which translates to an average annual decline of 5.6%. The lowest production volume was recorded in 2019 at 151.8 thousand tons, while the sharpest year-over-year drop occurred in 2018 with a 20.1% decrease.

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

Exports sorghum from Myanmar

Exports in kind, t

The export market demonstrated significant volatility during the observed period. Volumes reached their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2017, with a staggering 22 122-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Myanmar exported 310.3 tons of sorghum, marking an extraordinary increase of 1 824 900.0% compared to the previous year. The minimum export volume was recorded in 2019 at 0.0 tons, which represented a complete 100.0% decline from the preceding period.

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

From 2017 to 2020, China and Vietnam together accounted for 87.4% of Myanmar's total sorghum exports by volume, with the remaining share distributed among smaller markets.

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, K $ US

The export market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Export values reached their lowest point in 2019 and hit their maximum in 2020, showing an amplitude of 1 285 times between these years. In 2020, sorghum exports from Myanmar totaled 102.8 thousand US dollars, representing a dramatic increase of 128 431.3% compared to the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 0.1 thousand US dollars, which marked a 99.9% decline from the preceding period.

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

During 2017-2020, China and Vietnam served as the dominant destinations for Myanmar's sorghum exports by value, jointly capturing 87.6% of total export flows while other markets accounted for the remainder.

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

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

Imports sorghum to Myanmar

Imports in kind, t

The import market experienced noticeable fluctuations during this period. Volumes peaked in 2017 and reached their lowest point in 2018, with a 43-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Myanmar imported 0.2 tons of sorghum, showing a substantial increase of 4 191.7% compared to the previous year.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, Thailand played the leading role in Myanmar's sorghum imports by volume, accounting for 72.8% of total import flows, while other markets together made up the rest.

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, K $ US

The import market showed noticeable fluctuations in performance during this period. Import values reached their minimum in 2018 and peaked in 2020, with a 4.4-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Myanmar imported 1.8 thousand US dollars worth of sorghum, representing a decrease of 67.5% compared to the previous year.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the country structure of Myanmar's sorghum imports by value was shaped primarily by Australia and the United States, which together accounted for 87.6% of total import flows, with other markets forming the remaining share.

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

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