Ample domestic production of moong and maize is influencing India’s import policy for commodities which many countries are looking to sell in the world’s most populous country. Government sources have told CNBC-TV18 that a ministerial delegation from Myanmar met Indian government officials last week to discuss issues pertaining to trade in pulses and the India-Myanmar Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Tur and Urad trade.
While Myanmar had proposed inclusion of moong and maize in the MoU to increase local cultivation in India’s eastern neighbour, government sources indicated that India is not keen on including both these commodities in the MoU because of ample domestic production.
As per the 5-year MoU, India had allowed annual import quotas of 2.5 LMT of Urad and 1.0 LMT of Tur to Myanmar from FY 2021-22 till FY 2025-26. However, government sources pointed out that the actual annual import quantities of Tur and Urad from Myanmar have consistently exceeded annual MoU quotas. India has allowed free import of Tur and Urad since May 2021, with the policy now extended till 31st March 2026.
Bilateral trade between India and Myanmar stood at $2.1 billion in FY 2024-25, with India’s export of over $614 million and import from Myanmar at around $1,533 million. Myanmar’s export to India has increased more than India’s export to Myanmar due to India’s announcement of free import of Urad and Tur upto 31st March 2025, which has further extended up to 31st March 2026. The overall trade has risen from $1.29 billion in FY 2020-21 to $1.89 billion in FY 2021-22; $1.76 billion in FY 2022-23 and $1.74 billion in FY 2023-24.
India is the fourth largest trading partner of Myanmar, and primarily exports pharmaceuticals, products of animal origin, cereal, foodstuff, animal feed, cotton, machinery, vehicles, electrical machinery etc. to Myanmar. On the other hand, Myanmar exports pulses, wood products, and agricultural goods to India.
