The spread of the COVID-19 in major markets is making it almost impossible for Myanmar to export its fisheries products, the Myanmar Times reported on 8 April.
Shipments to most key destinations have almost stopped, with local processing plants now worrying they cannot maintain their operations.
“Currently, buyers have almost stopped placing orders. Moreover, demand has declined in many countries. Also, the signing of new export agreements has stopped while the existing agreements have been suspended,” Myanmar Marine Product Producers and Exporters Association Chairman U Tun Aye said.
A senior official from the association did not respond to a query from SeafoodSource on 9 April.
Exports to the European Union, one of the most important markets for Myanmar seafood sector, have grounded to a halt. Meanwhile, another key market, China, is importing a small volume of mainly low-priced seafood from Myanmar, with full recovery seemingly far off.
Processors fear they will soon be unable to continue their business operations if the situation worsens. To help lessen the adverse impacts, Aye has called on Myanmar's government to support the seafood sector by providing financial support packages for workers affected by the pandemic, similar to what other countries, such as the United States and Singapore, have done.
The government last month announced a fund of USD 70 million (EUR 64 million) to support companies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but with priority given to the tourism and garment sectors, the Myanmar Times reported on 12 April.
Myanmar mainly ships its marine seafood to the European Union and countries in Asia. Its freshwater products are primarily exported to the Middle East. The Southeast Asian country shipped 340,000 metric tons of seafood products with the export value of USD 412 million (EUR 376.6 million) between October 2019 and February 2020 of the current fiscal year, according to the newspaper.
Myanmar had 38 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of 12 April, with three deaths. As part of the measures to contain the spread of the outbreak, Myanmar's government has banned international commercial flights until 30 April.
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