Myanmar’s areca nut exports to India soar in FY2024-25
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