Exported Rakhine crabs to China fetch good price

Narinjara News, 21 April 2023

Crabs from Rakhine State have been currently exported to China on a regular basis and these are attracting good prices, said the crab traders.

Ko Tun Chay, a Maungdaw based crab trader, said that he bought one-kilogram crabs with Kyats 7000. He exported the crabs to China through the Sittwe-Mandalay-Muse road. As the demand for crabs is higher in China, he expects a higher price there.

During the years of conflicts in Rakhine State between the junta forces and Arakan Army members as well as the outbreak of Covid-19, crab hunters and traders had a tough time. The way to export crabs was almost closed.

In October 2021, the price of crabs was reduced to Kyats 4000 per kg in Rakhine State.

U Maung Win Shwe, manager of Kethi Oo cargo terminal in Sittwe informed that the crabs are fetching a good price in China and hence the Rakhine traders are using the smooth road to Muse. No less than four heavy vehicles are moving to China every day with crabs.

"As the crab is a natural product, there is no problem exporting it to China by the road. We are now sending almost four 6-wheelers a day," he added.

In 2020, when the first wave of Covid-19 hit Myanmar, the crab export business from the Rakhine region was severely affected.

At that time, the export of crabs to China was only carried through Yangon airport only. The high cost of air service discouraged the traders for some time.

Rakhine being a coastal region, various aquatic items like fish, shrimp, crab, etc are the primary revenue generating products for the residents after the agriculture.