Starting from April 1, fruits must be transported in single or group packaging methods when being exported to China through the Myanmar-China border trade route, according to fruit brokers’ sales centres on the border.
The Chinese customs department has announced that starting from April 1, the method of transporting fruits piled in the bed of a truck will no longer be allowed in importing the goods into China. Currently, the method is still being used in exporting watermelons and cantaloupes through the border town of the Mongla to China, and mangoes will be exported in the near future. A watermelon farmer said that the cost of a truck carrying more than a thousand watermelons could increase by about 30 million kyats due to the change in the transportation system.
Some border traders said that due to the constant changes in China’s policies regarding fruit imports, traders are facing difficulties. Currently, due to the Chinese restrictions and delays, many trucks carrying watermelons are waiting in line on the Myanmar side to enter China. In addition, due to the delays on the journey during the hot season, the quality of the watermelons has declined when reaching the wholesale market on the Chinese side, which leads to facing low prices in trading.
A kilo of cantaloupe from Myanmar into China is priced at 4 to 5 yuan depending on the quality while watermelons are priced at 30,000 to 60,000 yuan per truck weighing less than 15 tons.
