Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Min Naung visited the vineyards in YwarTan village-tract on Yamethin Township in Mandalay Region on Sunday. During the meeting with farmers, the Union Minister urged them to cultivate grape not only for consuming but also for wine producing. 

He also outlined the implementation of contract farming system through collaboration between farmers and wine entrepreneurs for wider market opportunities. The Union Minister stressed the need to strive for cultivation of targeted cotton acres in Yamethin area, ensuring the expected yield.

Then, the Directors General presented the technical issues to be abided by the respective sectors and the Union Minister coordinated the needs. Later, the Union Minister arrived at LePhyu Dam where he instructed for implementation of dredging works with the use of regional government fund and arrangement for construction new dam if needed. He also observed the water inflow of KyeeNiKan and supplying irrigated water to the catchment area.

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Farmers in central Japan have begun harvesting and shipping premium grapes known as Shine Muscat. Deliveries of outdoor-grown Shine Muscat began on Friday at an agricultural cooperative in Yamanashi City.

Other large grape varieties were being shipped as well, including Pione and Queen Nina. The local agricultural cooperative said outdoor-grown Shine Muscat harvested in the area makes up about a quarter of nationwide yields. It expects to ship about 5,100 tons this year.

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In a record-breaking year for Turkiye’s prized agricultural product, pistachio exports reached an all-time high in the first seven months of 2025. The Southeast Anatolia Region, home to more than 300,000 families who depend on pistachio farming, generated $132.5 million in exports between January and July—marking the highest figure ever recorded for this period.

Often referred to as “Turkiye’s green gold,” Antep pistachios continue to play a vital role in supporting both the national economy and local producers. Compared to the same period last year, exports saw a remarkable 27.8% increase. The industry’s target is to reach $250 million in exports by the end of 2025.

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The Bank of England (BoE) announced on Thursday a cut to its benchmark interest rate from 4.25 percent to 4 percent, the lowest level in more than two years, to boost the weakening British economy. The BoE's Monetary Policy Committee voted 5-4 in favour of the quarter-point reduction. British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves welcomed the rate cut. She posted on social media that the cut brings down the cost of mortgages and loans across the UK.

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A Launching Ceremony for the Digital Platform-based Edible Oil Distribution System was held at the conference hall of the Ministry of Commerce in Nay Pyi Taw on August 7, to ensure that the edible oil transported from the Yangon palm oil storage tank to regions and states, including the Naypyidaw Union Territory, to arrive with the specified quality and quantity within the set timeframe and to supervise the edible oil distribution process.

The Union Minister for Commerce U Chit Swe, attended and delivered a speech. In his speech, Union Minister U Chit Swe stated that the new digital platform-based edible oil distribution system must be used for supervision. He emphasized the need to successfully implement the system down to the retail level in the Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory and then extend it to other regions and states.

Following this, the Director-General of the Department of Consumer Affairs explained the reasons for implementing the new system, while the Chairman of the Myanmar Edible Oil Dealers and Manufacturers Association presented on the status of their collaborative efforts.

Afterwards, the Union Minister, Deputy Ministers, Joint Secretary of the Central Committee on Ensuring Smooth Flow of Trade and Goods, and a member of the Nay Pyi Taw Council officially opened the ceremony by cutting the ribbon. During the event, a representative from the technology company Capital Connect Limited gave a video presentation on the Edible Oil System for supervising distribution.

A representative from Taw Win Ekarit Company then explained the condition to monitor edible oil transportation in real time by using GPS and CCTV. Attendees were able to ask questions and discuss their queries.

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Pharma giants AstraZeneca, Bayer and Boehringer Ingelheim on Thursday announced investments in Mexico worth hundreds of millions of dollars, despite trade tensions between the country and the United States. Britain's AstraZeneca and Germany's Bayer and Boehringer Ingelheim, together with Mexico's own Carnot Laboratories, unveiled plans to plough a combined $600 million into their Mexican operations.

The announcement comes as Mexico scrambles to avert a 30-percent tariff on many of its exports to the United States, which had been meant to take effect last week but which Trump agreed to delay by 90 days.

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Myanmar’s areca nut export to India showed a substantial increase in the 2024-2025 financial year (April-March), according to the Economic Attaché in Kolkata, citing a report by The Hindu Business Line.
According to the statistics provided by the lower House of India’s Parliament, the value of areca nut exports to India by Myanmar and Bangladesh surged last FY. Jitin Prasada, Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, submitted a letter describing the areca nut import between 2021-2022 FY and 2024-2025 FY to the parliament.
India’s area nut imports from Myanmar hit US$15.6 million in FY 2023-2024, and the import value edged up to $33.2 million in FY 2024-2025.
Similarly, the value of areca nut imports from Bangladesh also went up to $53.06 million in FY 2024-2025 from $13.29 million in FY 2023-2024.
India’s areca nut import amounted to $143.45 million in FY 2024-2025, $147.99 million in FY 2023-2024 FY and $90.18 million in FY 2021-2022.
Chinese demand for Myanmar’s soft, fresh and moist areca nuts is on an upward trajectory. Myanmar’s areca nut market has become widespread. There is competitive pricing in the market. The conical-shaped nuts, rather than round ones, are mostly traded. After baking the soft areca nuts with heat, they are exported to China. Areca nut is one of the core components in betel chewing practice locally, along with other ingredients like betel leaves, slaked lime and tobacco. — NN/KK

Myanmar Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association (MFVP) set up the Myanmar Durian Growers and Exporters Group (Ayeyawady Region) at the Agriculture Department in Pathein city on 2 August.
A group of durian growers from Thapaung, Pathein, Nyaungdon, Maubin, Latputta, Pantanaw and Myaungmya townships in Ayeyawady Region attended the event. Myanmar Durian Growers and Exporters Group (Ayeyawady Region) comprises 21 central executives and working executives.
It is the fifth group of Myanmar Durian Growers and Exporters organized so far. The respective groups have been formed in Yangon and Bagan and Mon, and Kayin states. — NN/KK

In the first week of August, the fishing boats carrying various fish from the sea enter the Yangon jetties and the products are stored at the cold storage facilities for foreign export.
There are over 500 fishing boats in Yangon, and over 350 capture fish and prawns in the sea. The fishing boats sheltered for one week at the islands while the sea got rough during the stormy period. The fish and prawn captured from 28 July to date arrive at 10 jetties in Yangon.
“Currently, there are over 350 fishing boats from Yangon in the sea, and they return to normal condition. The fishing boats enter the jetty daily. The consumption of freshwater for the entry of saltwater products is a supportive action for the local marine product security. Then, it earns foreign income from the foreign export sector,” said U Tin Tun, staff officer of Yangon VMS Sub-Control Centre.
The saltwater products arriving in Yangon are entering cold storage facilities as foreign exports and are being sent to Shaw Padauk and Kyimyindine fish markets for local consumption.
“Due to the arrival of large offshore fishing vessels in the first week of this month, the supply of marine products has resumed as usual. Even today, vessels are continuing to arrive, and tomorrow, large fishing trawlers carrying various kinds of fish are expected to arrive. In addition to domestic consumption, some of the fish are for export, so they will be transported to cold storage factories and exported overseas. When marine products begin to enter the market, the prices of freshwater fish, which are currently high, usually decline. The entry of export-class products is beneficial both to the country by earning foreign income and to business owners,” said Daw Tin Nwe, entrepreneur at Kyimyindine MNG jetty. — Thitsa (MNA)/KTZH

The Sanitary and Phytosanitary Protocol (SPS Protocol) workshop was held at the end of July at the Mingala Hall of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI).
The SPS protocol is a must for legitimate rice export to China. The SPS Protocol measures include all relevant laws, decrees, regulations, requirements and procedures.
Officials of Agriculture Department and Consumer Affairs Department, representatives of Myanmar Inspection and Testing Services Limited, chair of Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) and rice exporting companies attended the workshop, emphasizing SPS Protocol procedures, registration with The General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, online registration process for legal rice export, and potential markets in Europe, Africa and Asia beyond China.
Representatives of the companies elaborated a purchasing plan, an export plan, repatriation of export revenues and registration on MyRO. Officials concerned coordinated the matters discussed by the companies. — NN/KK