In Myanmar, many people make a living by growing fruit. China is the largest export market for Myanmar fruit. Exports to China yearly take up 95% of all fruit exports from Myanmar with more than 1700 tons being transfered daily. If business is going well, then a lot of problems will arise which are not beneficial for merchants carrying out trade between Myanmar and China.
Since the end of October, before Chinese merchants came to buy fruits near the center for transactions, the management payed deposits of approximately 62 million Myanmarese kyats (300 thousand RMB), before they could obtain the permission to receive the fruits. This certificate allows them to do transactions within this fruit market. In order to ensure the benefit of the Chinese fruit merchants, Myanmarese fruit merchants have also guaranteed the quality of each batch of fruit.
A number of Myanmarese merchants have expressed that, although Chinese merchants are willing to hand over deposits, Myanmarese merchants will still suffer losses. When conditions are good, then, firstly, large customers will pressure down the prices of the goods; and secondly, some buyers with insufficient funds will have to choose fruit markets in other countries. Simultaneously, a group of Chinese traders has said that it is unfair that only Chinese merchants have to pay deposits of such large sums.