Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/581281
38 STiR tea & coffee industry international / Issue 5, 2015 (October/November) CQI project consultant Dan Kuhn works with local coffee farmers Mandalay Coffee Group's sun-drying terraces Sai Wan Maing, vice chairman of the Myanmar Coffee Association and director of Green Land Coffee Plantation Andrew Hetzel (center) as a judge during the recent first official cupping competition organized by the Myanmar Coffee Association in Yangon Photo courtesy Myanmar Coffee Association Photo courtesy Andrew Hetzel, CQI Photo by Andrew Hetzel, CQI Export potential Only a small amount of Myanmar's coffee output is exported. Individual growers and cooperatives are concentrating on supplying the domestic sec- tor and the small amounts exported are shipped to nearby countries. "Of our entire group's most recent combined ar- abica harvest, we exported only 20 m.t, of which ap- proximately half was shipped to China, 25% to South Korea, 15% to Malaysia, and roughly 10% to Japan," according to Min Hlaing of the Mandalay Coffee Group, "The remainder was sold domestically." His own plantation, Sithar Coffee Farm, was established in 2004 and yields approximately 8 m.t per year, all consumed domestically. The reason why exports have been on the back- burner so far is difficult to determine, but it could well be that–as Hetzel noted earlier–a large pro- portion of overseas buyers are simply not aware of Myanmar as an emerging raw bean source. It is possible to increase exports as demonstrat- ed by the MCA's members. "We export around 60% of our harvest, while 40% is consumed do- mestically," said Sai Wan. "Our main exporting countries are in descending order according to the quantities shipped - China, Thailand, Korea, and Japan. We also send minor quantities to Europe." Investment opportunity "Myanmar is undoubtedly already a full-fledged producer, just a small one," observed Hetzel, add- ing that "foreign companies and investors that I've spoken to seem excited. Since reopening after decades of diplomatic isolation, the country pro- vides numerous opportunities for investment and growth – and not only in coffee production." There is a tremendous amount of work ahead to increase yields, improve quality, and educate farmers in cultivation and processing technologies. MCA's Sai Wan Maing agrees: "Generally speaking, our coffee farmers know how to grow and maintain their plantations, but we still need to improve farm management to increase yields, and also implement proper ways of post-harvest processing like wet milling, dry milling and storage, all of which are im- portant to control our coffee quality". As such, Myanmar is not going to be another Vietnam. Instead, this obscure Southeast Asian nation harbors exciting potential to add qual- ity beans to a global market short on arabica and perhaps also satisfy a growing interest in superior grades of robusta. "The specialty coffee world will be hearing more from Myanmar in coming years," predicted Hetzel, calling the country "a diamond in the rough." Now may be the right time to cut and polish that dia- mond to transform it into a sparkling jewel.