MYANMAR exported nearly 43,000 tonnes of seafood in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, an increase of more than 5000 tonnes over the same period last year, show figures from the Department of Fisheries.

However, the earnings from last year’s April-June sales were higher than those from the same period this year.

Myanmar earned US$33 million and 2.8 million euros from normal trade and nearly K20 billion through border trade in this year’s first quarter. Last year’s first-quarter earnings totaled $46 million and K17 billion.

U Ye Htut, an assistant factory manager at Asian Prosperity Export Import Co, Ltd, which exports fisheries products, said a drop in the price of seafood in the Southeast Asian regional market has also lowered prices Myanmar.

A Department of Fisheries official said half the country’s fisheries that export seafood rely on border trade, mainly to China but also to Thailand.

Seafood exports peak from September to December, due in part to seasonal celebrations in the neighbouring countries, such as Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year.

The government is working to increase fisheries exports to $500 million during the current fiscal year, which ends March 2005, the department official said.

Fish constituted 25,000 tonnes of the total seafood exports from April to June, prawns 5000 tonnes and other fishery products 10,470 tonnes.

Last fiscal year Myanmar exported 205,400 tonnes of seafood, earning $167 million and 20 million euros from normal trade, and K11.4 billion through border trade.