Upwards, not sideways, for Myanmar crabs

Buyers from Malaysia, Singapore and China are now the major importers of Myanmar’s soft-shell crabs, according to the Myanmar Crab Entrepreneurs Association.

“Our entrepreneurs are also exporting crabs to other countries on a trial basis because they are looking at entering new markets,” said Hnin Oo, the association chairman.

He said that among the other countries that have bought the soft-shell crabs are Thailand, Hong Kong and Australia.

An official at the Fundamentals of Instrumentation and Quality Control Office of Myanmar’s Fisheries Department said, “Soft-shell crabs are exported by sea and sold across borders. Myanmar earned US $8.308 million from exporting soft-shell crabs from April 1, 2012, to February 3, 2013.”

Of that amount, $4.381 million is accounted for as sea-route trade while the remainder was revenue from exporting the crabs via the Kawthaung and Myeik borders in Tanintharyi [Tenasserim] Region, he said.

Maung Sit, an official at the Asaungkaung Company, said that in previous years, Myanmar exported 30 to 40 tons of soft-shell crabs per month. “Now we export about 50 tons of crabs per month,” he said.

Most of Myanmar’s soft-shell crab farms are located in the Tanintharyi and Yangon regions.

source: Mizzima
http://www.mizzima.com/business/8886-upwards-not-sideways-for-myanmar-crabs.html