As edible oil crops are harvested in this season vast supply of groundnut and sesame oils are also available at the market with the stable price of K1850. Varieties of new crops entering the markets are also being traded. Meanwhile gold price cools down again during this week reaching from K327,000 to K310,500. (December 20 news)
Contracts registered at the government's contract registration office are required for changing the ownership of vehicles that are worth K100millions and above. (December 15 news)
A South Korean company purchased one-foot high 3,000 alabaster Buddha images and three-inch high 1,000 jade Buddha images from a gem and handicrafts trading company in Sayasan plaza. The Burmese company will export alabaster Buddha images first in January. (December 15 news)
Trade Council allowed 30 import and 10 export licences in its 45th meeting. The import licences mostly include for construction materials while export licences are for garments, fisheries, forestry products, and bean and pulses. (December 15 news)
A consultant group from Japan productivity centre for socio-economic development visited two private factories last month to advise for their development under the criteria for management assessment for SMEs in Mekong region program. (December 15 news)
A Chinese business mission comprised with about 100 businesses will visit Burma in April next year to seek investment opportunity in the country. (December 14 news)
Real estate rental market is more promising than sales market in Mandalay and rentals increase twofold compared to last year. (December 13 news)
A cycling team that includes 12 foreigners will begin its Taunggyi-Bagan cycling tour on December 13. (December 10 news)
There are increase number of services for those who want to have medical treatment in hospitals from foreign countries including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and India. (December 9 news)
UMFCCI began verifying the price recommendation of the medical check-up equipment since last week and has given its approval to six companies. Companies are not allowed to import used equipment. (December 8 news)
Fire victims who lost their houses during November 28 Hlaing Township fire received land plots in Wartayar in Shwe Pyithar Township. So far 1571 out of 1679 house owners have received their quotas. (December 12 news)
Total of more than 3700 government and private vehicles have successfully converted to be operated on CNG. (December 9 news)
A Japanese Jewellery company visited here from November 13 to 17 for purchase of 50,000 tonnes of antimony annually. (December 8 news)
Increasing numbers of the local manufacturers resulted in about 85 per cent domination of domestic plastic market. (December 8 news)
Bandoola Transportation began operating the first city bus line in Pyinmana since December 15. (December 8 news)
Watermelon prices drop about 35 per cent in border market due to the decrease demand from China because of the cold weather as well as the increase yield of seedless watermelon from China Heinan. (December 5 news)
Domestic market is likely to enjoy more foreign crops and horticulture cultivated locally. (December 8 news)
Kumudra No.
196 (November 18)
Price of sesame oil decreases as a result of the falling price of the raw sesame while the prices of groundnut oil and edible oil remain stable. (November 14 news)
Gold price stables in about K305,000 per tical during this week. Previously the price went down to about K285,000 per tical on November 8 and 9. (November 13 news)
Yangon General Hospital is inviting donors for A and O blood types as the amount of those blood types used are considerably greater than the amount of donated bloods. (November 10 news)
Relevant committees were reviewing for the standards of the paddy trading to be consistent with current business, U Hantha Tun from Market Information and Research Team said. (November 10 news)
Property market in Thanlyin Township stables within one and half months, and building and land plots valuing only less than K2.5 millions are traded. (November 10 news)
Trial cultivation of Korean Ginseng plants in Thanlyin Township is successful and the plantation is expected to expand after the agricultural experts approve the authentication of the plants. (November 10 news)
Sales of Chinese generators and water pumps increase while rental of Japanese generators and water pumps are also picking up in Rangoon since October. (November 10 news)
More iron casting businesses are renting warehouses in Hlaingthayar Industrial Zone. (November 4 news)
Myanmar Maritime University and Korea Marine Transport Co., Ltd signed an agreement on October 28 that will allow eight students to work at the Korean company before and after completing the university. (November 18 news)
Kumudra No-195 (November 11)
Demands from Buthidaung/Maungdaw for grams (chickpea) increase in October for the supply of Sabbath months even though border trade is cooling down. (November 8 news)
Gold price falls about K10,000 within ten days and has reached about K304,000 on November 7. A shop owner said the gold market cooled down normally during that period. (November 7 news)
Groundnut oil prices are down due to the new harvest groundnut comes into the Mandalay market. Prices of mung bean also fall in Monywa and Magway markets. (November 7 news)
A group of Burmese industrialists has found the methods of using alcohol as fuel for the vehicles with engines that are run on petrol and diesel. The group has successfully experimented its method on a number of motor cycles and passenger buses. (November 4 news)
Vehicle assembling businesses are producing the domestically assembled light trucks more due to the popularity of those vehicles. The other reason is those businesses are not allowed to assemble the modern luxury vehicles. (November 4 news)
The Rangoon's property market cools down again in mid-October even though it slightly picked up in September. (November 4 news)
Prices of the Thai foodstuff drop off about K50 to K100 depending on each item due to the mass import of the similar products via border. (November 3 new)
Mandalay-based brick-block industries are planning to use the coal instead of firewood for producing the brick-block and the replace will enable to reduce the cost of production per block. (November 3 news)
New harvest rice arrives in Bayannaung Complex and the rice prices fall about K1000/K1500 per bag (1.5 baskets). (November 3 news)
Kumudra journal No-194 (November 4)
Vehicle market is cooled down during this week and only vehicles used for business purpose are being traded. (November 1 news)
Educative talk on safety, precaution measure for crimes and fire outbreak is held on August 25 in Yuzana Plaza market. A police official warned at the event that thefts were increasing especially in high-rises and tall buildings in day times and residents should be united to prevent the incidents. (October 31 news)
The prices of groundnut oil and palm oil are stable at K1950 Kyats during this week. (October 31 news)
More private businesses would be allowed for converting vehicles running on petrol to compressed natural gas. So far about seven companies are doing such conversion business. (October 28 news)
The Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department is beginning a bird flu education programmes for small-scale chicken breeders in rural areas as the potential of the infectious disease is higher in those chickens. The department also distributes educational pamphlets that include guidelines for preventing the disease. (October 28 news)
More than 1260 tonnes of paddy are produced from wetlands in Bago Division and it will earn more than US$25,000 if paddies are exported. (October 27 news)
A team led by a Japanese eye-specialist, Dr Fujita, will visit Burma on November 20 for conducting operations free of charges for eye patients. (October 27 news)
The first Myanmar Pearl Auction that will invite the pearl dealers from overseas only will be held next year from February 17 to 19 in Inya Lake Hotel. More than 80 pearl trading companies from 15 countries are expected to join the event. (October 27 news)
The hiking of the petrol prices has cooled down the motorcycle market in Mandalay. Prices are down by about K30,000 per unit. (October 27 news)
A local company is producing metal figurines with newer designs that will be eyes catching for the tourists. (October 26 news)
Ma Hninn Thuzar Nwe, a grade four student from Maungdaw in Rakhine State won a prize in the international painting competition for primary school level students organised by the UN's World Food Programme. (September 25 news)
Kumudra News No. 193 (October 28)
The Ministry of Commerce is leasing its 186 warehouses in four townships in Rangoon to the private businessmen and organisations. (Oct 20 news)
More passengers are taking trains that are operated along Rangoon's circular railway. The train tickets cost about K10 to K20 while the bus-fares are ranging from K40 to about K160. (Oct 21 news)
The gold price is rapidly fluctuating and it is circulating at around K310,000 during recent two weeks. (Oct 24 news)
Diamond market is slightly decreasing during a couple of days and the prices also has declined about K20,000 within two weeks. (Oct 21 news)
Only two out of more than 90 weaving businesses in Myawaddy Town are operating due to the labour shortages. (Oct 19 news)
Chinese potatoes are penetrating in the Myittkyina market even though local potatoes are also being marketed. (Oct 6 news)
The markets of the green beans in Magway, Mandalay and Monywa are only active as both normal and border trade exporters are buying green beans. The market of the rest beans and pulses are not that good due to the crops' off-season. ( Oct 24 news)
Kumudra weekly
No.188 (3/9/2005)
Burma to hold mid-year gems sales from 5th to 14th October.
Car prices firmed as there are buying with high prices, said market sources.
Real estate market starts to move with some buying of flats and condominium apartments.
Officials have urged the remaining depositors at the recently closed Asia Wealth Bank to come and make their withdrawals by 30th September.
Bus fares in Rangoon have rose.
The Irrawaddy football team, formed with foreigners residing in Burma, is regularly playing with local teams at the University Football Field every Sunday at 2:00 pm. "It's fun to play with them, as they are very polite and friendly. One disadvantage is they are taller and better at head balls. It's better to play from a distance with them," said a team member from Royal Fashion Club, which regularly plays with the Irrawaddy.
Kumudra
No. 186 (9/9/2005)
Chamber of Commerce and Industries ordered traders in Rangoon's Bayintnaung wholesales market not to involve in future trading in pulses and beans markets. Future trading in the market have caused many financial swindling in pulses and beans markets in recent months. CCI also urges traders in the market to deal with cash on sale basic, not on credit basic.
Rice prices drop slightly in Rangoon. Rice arrivals to Rangoon have dropped about one-third than the previous volume, because Rangoon's rice prices are lower than the paddy prices in the countryside. Merchants in Rangoon are clearing their stocks, due to the arrivals of new crops in mid October.
Gold prices drop and business is cool in Rangoon's gold market.
Prices and beans prices drop because of difficulties in obtaining export licences.
The Kumudra
weekly No. 185 2nd
Sept. 05.
UNICEF is providing medical assistance for dengue fever victims in Burma, said the UNICEF office in Rangoon. Dengue fever cases have been high in Burma this year, said an officer from UNICEF. Medicines are arriving monthly from Copenhagen on emergency since May, said the officer.
Car prices up and business is active at car markets in Rangoon.
Mandalay's YMCA to open courses on foreign languages, martial arts and music.
Kumudra
19/8/2005, No. 183
Pharmaceutical and medical equipment entrepreneurs association is giving testimonials on invoice prices for the import licence applications for medicines and medical equipment imports. The associations under UMFCCI are responsible to endorse the invoice prices on import and export licence applications, which have to be submitted to the trade council. The deputy director general of the directorate of trade said import and export licence applications take only one week, even through they have to be submitted to the Trade Council.
Thai businessmen are interested in the Maesod-Myawaddy-Rangoon highway road to transport their goods to other markets in the region, said the Chairman of Myanmar Freight Forwarders Association.
The Water Guard solution, which has been promoted by PSI, is good for preventing diseases cause by unclean water and will improve family healthcare, said a project officer from PSI.
Snakebite cases are on the rise in Burma as farmers are entering their fields in the monsoon.
Export market for pulses and beans is cool. Only the pulses and beans purchases for China border market have been active. There have been continuous news about financial cheating in pulses and beans market and the latest news is that a trader in Rangoon has ran away after he could not clear over kyats 2000 million in payments for goods.
Kumudra
10/6/2005
The cases of Dengue Fever have doubled this year and prevention efforts are increased, said a health official. The health officials are worried that the Dengue Fever would become an epidemic this year, like in 2001.
Deaths from motorcycle accidents have risen in Mandalay and all over Burma. The accidents mostly happened because of the negligence of traffic rules, said the doctors from Mandalay hospital. The lack of discipline on the roads are common among the motorcyclists in Burma and that Burmese people should learn to live within the boundaries of the rules and regulations, said a veteran lawyer from Mandalay.
Import duties for the generators have increased almost 4 times and importers are reducing their import quantity. The generator sales have also been declining in Burma, due to the rainy season, when the electricity supplies are improving.
Second hand cars market in Rangoon became slow after the schools reopening, said the car brokers. Car prices have increased 15% after the water festival in April.
The NGO Partners-In-Go is expanding their activities in health related projects at the primary schools and middle schools. The NGO has started with the assistance from UNAIDS and FHAM.
The issuance of import licenses have been quick, taking 1 day only for ordinary cases, 1 week for cases which have to go through the EISC (Export Import Supervisory Committee), and two weeks for cases that have to be submitted to the Trade Council, said the deputy director general of directorate of trade.
Medicines prices rose 5-7% in recent days, said a medicine wholesales centre owner.
Sugar production in Burma this year is only a third of the previous years' productions but sugar prices are unlikely to rise due to a sharp decline in consumption, said the sugar wholesales centre chairman.
Edible oil prices are declining due to improving import situations for palm oil at the Thai-Burma border.
Pulses and beans markets slow with signs for declining prices. Pulses and beans exports to China are also slow. There have been cash flow difficulties in the pulses and beans market.
Kumudra 3/6/2005
Tuck of War games held in Madalay to lure the rain, which has been late for this year. Big crowds gathered at the game site. Burmese traditionally believe that tuck of war games could bring rains. Monsoon has been late in Burma this year and the temperatures have been high in Burma.
There have been increasing reports of financial cheating in Burma's business circles. Wholesales markets and trade centres are warning their member traders to beware of the swindlers, who were known as reputable businessmen. Billions of kyats were cheated from some businessmen in the import/export sector and some from agriculture products trading centres, by some individuals pretended as well to do businessmen. Many businessmen got cheated also on future trading of agriculture products. Most businessmen did not report to the police because there could be investigations on illegal black money possession. A veteran trader in Rangoon's Bayint Naung wholesales market said the time is ripe to stop the financial cheating in Burma's business circles.
A Japanese NGO name Futokoro will come to Burma to raise funds for HIV/AIDS sufferers in the country. The group held a charity fair last year and donated the proceeds to the AFXB. The Japanese NGO this year will bring singers from Mongolia, Korea, China, Taiwan and Japan and will hold fundraising musical concerts in tourist places like Pagan.
Gold prices declining in Burma, following to the world market prices.
Second hand car prices rising again and the second hand car markets in Rangoon become active.
There are not many movements in the real estate market, which has been cool for some times. But real estate prices remain high with sellers unwilling to sell at lower prices.
Local free farm chicken prices have dropped due to increased supply in the wholesales market in Rangoon. Free farm local chicken prices usually drop at this time of the year when the public schools are reopening. Farmers have to sell their chicken to send their children to school and also chicken sales to restaurants and food stalls in the towns and cities are dropped due to low business in this time of the year. Cash strapped with the parents! Broiler chicken supplies have been low, due to difficulties in acquiring imported small chicks. Burma still bans the imports of small chicks from neighbouring countries, following the Asian bird flu.
Burma's Black Sesame seeds fetched good prices (US$ 1070 per ton) in a recent sale by Htoon Trading to Japan's Mitsubishi Trading. 10 companies are planting black sesame in central Burma Magwe division for exports. The government starts to allow the exports of sesame seeds grown on newly reclaimed lands.
Hard wood logs extracted from northwest Burma and Chin State have started moving to India by overland transports. The hard woods were reported to have sold to India at US$ 200 per ton but due to unknown reasons, they were not transported across the border, until late April. The new price is not know, but local truckers said they get paid kyats 20,000 ($20) per ton for the transport.
Burma Hotelier Association published its first Hotel Magazine.
Pulses and beans prices rising due to the buying for border trade exports to China and also due to the rising foreign exchange rate.
Kumudra
18/2/2005
· An article warning people to beware of rabies, which is believed to spring up in this season.
· The upcoming summer season could be hotter than usual, said the meteorological department.
· An Australian University (Murdoch University) is recruiting Burmese students for classes in Rangoon, will be taught by Australian teachers. The school offers degrees and diplomas courses equivalent to the ones in Australia. Burmese students can study for Australian degrees in Rangoon with minimum expenses, said the school. US$ 8,000 per annum for a degree course and US$ 7,000 per annum for a diploma course.
· Burma to hold another gems emporium in the end of March.
· Burma’s top quality tea production is still low and could not fulfil the demands for exports, said a green tea entrepreneur who is using good packing in marketing his green tea. Another company is exporting instant tea power to Singapore. Burmese green tea is known as organic green tea in the international markets, said the tea entrepreneurs.
· Inspiration Company, the regional authorised centre for U.K’s Middlesex University, is offering free consulting for students seeking further education in the U.K. Average annual expenses will be around US$ 10,000 per annum to study in the university, said the company’s information officer.
· Burma’s pulses and beans dominates India’s market with 77% of the market shares, said the chairman of Burma’s pulses and beans merchants association. Pigeon Peas, Gram & Green Mung Beans are most favourable in India market, said the chairman.
· Pigeon Pea prices up due to buying for exports to India. China border trades still cool due to Lunar New Year. Harvests have completed for most of the crops, but merchants are finding it difficult to purchase the crops due to financial constraints.
Burma last year exported 5,000 tons of toddy palm sugar to China by border trade with kyats 150,000 per ton. Among the legally exported items by border trade from Muse China-Burma border in 2003/04, there were 60 tons of dried orchid stems and 250 live dogs.
Kumudra
11/2/2005
· The government’s housing department is trying to build more low costs residence buildings in Rangoon for the middle income people. The department officials said there are enough upmarket housing buildings in Rangoon at the moment and they will focus on building more low-costs buildings in the suburban areas.
· Real estate market cooler than the cool weather this year, said the real estate agents.
· Timber exports to Europe have increased, said Scansia Myanmar Company, which is exporting timber & timber products from Burma to Europe. The company is exporting garden furniture, wooden boats, boat decks, wooden parquet & other timber products to U.K, Sweden, Norway & Poland. The company has a marketing office in U.K.
· Gold prices stable at kyats 213000 per tical.
· Car prices stable at low prices and business has come back to life slowly, said the car brokers.
· Egg prices drop 30% due to increased supply in local markets during the Chinese New Year. Egg exports to China by border trade are stopped during the Chinese New Year and the eggs for exports have entered into the local markets.
· The government’s post & telecom department is working to increase the number to public telephone booths in Rangoon & all over the country, said the officials from the department. The public phone booths will also offer fax & e-mail services, the officials added.
· Edible oil prices drop due to increase in palm oil imports by border trade.
Pulses & beans market slow due to Lunar New Year
· Car tax can be paid at township revenue offices, said the revenue department officials. The government last year imposed tax from car owners and 6 special revenue offices were set up to collect taxes from the car owners. The special car tax offices are now closed and the township revenue offices take over the task of collecting car tax from the car owners.
· There are some changes at border trade import/export procedures. Border trade imports procedures are getting stricter and the procedures become the same as normal trade, which importers & exporters are required to pass through the government banks for payments of goods by using L/C system.
· The government urges private sector participation in pulses & beans exports promotion. Pulses and beans exports have been declining in recent months due to declining demands from the markets in India, where pulses and beans productions have increased this year.
· Burma to hold the first triathlon (only half of the actual triathlon) in Rangoon on the Union Day on 12th February. There has never been a triathlon event in Burma.
· Chinese made portable generators sales have been up, due to frequent power cuts in Rangoon.
· Sales at the souvenirs and cake shops for the Chinese Lunar New Year have been very bad this year, said the shop owners at Rangoon’s Mingalar wholesales market.
· The Myanmar Compassion Project, which started since 2000, has been providing health care services to 72 orphanages in Rangoon Division. The project office is at No.12 (o) People’s Lane, 7 mile, Pyay Road.
· Cultured Rohu fish prices have dropped due to increased supply at the Rangoon’s fish wholesales market. Fish farmers are facing difficulties due to declining fish prices.
· Gold prices stable this week at kyats 213000 per tical.
· Edible oil prices drop due to palm oil imports (smuggling) from Thailand by border trade.
· The British Embassy in Rangoon announced on 11th January that student visa applications will be accepted, only from the students entering to the accredited schools in the U.K.
· Pulses and beans prices drop dramatically this week, due to a stop in buying for China border trade. Possibly due to the Lunar New Year festivals. Buying for India markets are also quiet. Many merchants are getting worried.
· Burma will go ahead with the project of turning 6000 city buses into CNG using buses by end March. There will be more CNG stations in Rangoon and all over Burma, said an official from ministry of energy.
· More and more Burmese seamen are joining the Burma Seamen Union, because there are opportunities for applying GSM telephone, car import permits and buying low costs houses with instalments with seamen’s foreign exchange earnings.
· Land plot prices drop further in Rangoon after the New Year, said a real estate agent. As the Chinese New Year is approaching, even rental business has been declining, said the agent.
· Gold prices stable around kyats 213,000 per tical with brisk sales.
· Retail stores at Mandalay Zay Cho market are stocking their goods as the Chinese New Year is approaching. Wholesale merchants take rest during Chinese New Year.
· There are some buying for exports in the pulses and beans market and prices are getting higher.
· Corn prices down 40% due to a rise in production.
· Cauliflower prices are low due to an increase in production. Cabbage farmers are also facing big losses, said a vegetable merchant at Rangoon wholesales market.
· Burma is studying the traffic control systems in Japan & Singapore, for future adoption in Burma, said a senior officer from traffic police force.
· Drivers who honk horn in the city’s horn free zone will be fined 11500 kyats and jailed for 30 days, said the authorities. Two bus drivers were fined and jailed on 9th Jan.
· Video production increase to 60 ~ 80 movies a month. Video rental shops, which are required by the regulations to buy 40% of the production, are having difficulties buying all the unwanted & unqualified videos.
· Rice prices up slightly this week. Demands increase for stock keeping by families but supplies have reduced due to high paddy prices. Paddy prices are higher than the rice prices, said the merchants.
· Big losses in watermelon exports to China by border trade. Traders could not even regain the transport charges. A truckload of watermelons was seen selling at kyats 875,000 on the border and transport costs 1,100,000. Big losses for the traders this year.
· Gold prices steady this week at 210000/tical on 14/1/05.
· Pulses and beans prices drop. No buying for normal trade exports. Burma has become more dependent on China border trade for pulses and beans exports. Local merchants could not buy the new crops, due to cash constraint.
· Car prices drop slightly and the market comes back to life.