Sugar cane market in Myanmar

Earlier Report Observations

The sugar cane market in Myanmar expanded from 2018 to 2019, with production reaching a record 11.8 million tons in 2019. This growth was driven by a significant 10% increase in harvested area and improved yields, reflecting ongoing agricultural expansion. State-owned entities such as the Myanmar Sugarcane Enterprise continued to oversee procurement and processing, while private SMEs contributed to the mixed industrial structure.

From 2020 onward, production declined, with the market size falling to 10.6 million tons by 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic sharply reduced exports to China and disrupted farm operations, while the military coup and civil conflicts from 2021 led to land loss and labor migration, reducing cultivation capacity. Transportation difficulties and a shift toward brown sugar production due to logistical issues further constrained output.

In 2023, the market saw a modest recovery to 10.8 million tons, supported by higher sugar prices and increased floor prices for sugarcane, which helped cover growers' input costs. Regulatory developments, including the establishment of the Myanmar Codex Committee, progressed. For 2024, trade dependence on China and Vietnam remains pivotal, with export prices experiencing extreme volatility and ongoing calls for government agreements to facilitate exports.

Production sugar cane in Myanmar

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Myanmar ranked 19th globally in sugar cane production.

Top producers of sugar cane, 2017-2020

World map of production of sugar cane, 2017-2020

Myanmar's sugar cane production rose for two consecutive years before declining. In 2020, the country produced 11 551 K t of sugar cane, marking a 2.5% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 11.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.7%. The highest production volume was recorded in 2019 at 11 846 K t, while the largest annual increase occurred in 2018 at 9.9%.

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

Exports sugar cane from Myanmar

Exports in kind, K t

Sugar cane export volumes from Myanmar showed significant volatility during this period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 0.2 K t and peaked in 2018 at 120.5 K t, representing a 615-fold difference. In 2020, exports rebounded to 71.5 K t, reflecting a dramatic increase of 36,381.8% compared to 2019. The sharpest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 99.8%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, nearly all of Myanmar's sugar cane exports went to China, which accounted for 99.2% of total export volumes.

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

Export values for sugar cane from Myanmar were highly volatile from 2017 to 2020. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 94 K $ US, while the highest occurred in 2018 at 12 426 K $ US, creating a 133-fold gap. In 2020, exports surged to 8 567 K $ US, representing a substantial increase of 9,046.8% over the previous year. The most significant decline took place in 2019, with a decrease of 99.2%.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, China dominated Myanmar's sugar cane export market in value terms, capturing 99.3% of total export revenue.

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

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

Imports sugar cane to Myanmar

Imports in kind, K t

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

From 2017 to 2020, Myanmar's sugar cane imports were entirely sourced from Thailand, which accounted for 100.0% of import volumes.

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

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Thailand was the sole source of Myanmar's sugar cane imports in value terms, representing 100.0% of total import spending.

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

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