Burma (Myanmar) Agriculture Fertilizer

Fertilizer is one of the most imported items in Burma’s agribusiness sector. The country imports about 80 percent of the agrochemical, inorganic, and organic fertilizers from neighboring countries China, Malaysia, and Thailand, estimated at between 1.2 and 1.4 million tons per annum.

Burma does not have a competitive advantage in local fertilizer production at this time despite having natural gas resources for ammonia production, which presents a market opportunity for high-quality American fertilizer companies.

Import Requirements/Regulation: After the February 2021 coup, the military-led administration implemented a series of harsh import restrictions. More than 75 percent of all imported items, including fertilizers, have been restricted. From March 2022 onwards, restricted items require import licenses obtained through the Ministry of Commerce. The import license application approval process can take up to several months due to opaque internal processes. As the laws and regulations governing imports are highly complex and constantly evolving, most importers rely on professional experts such as freight forwarders and customs brokers to plan and carry out import transactions.

U.S. companies are strongly advised not to work with military-backed companies and sanctioned entities and to conduct proper due diligence checks on local partners. To connect with potential local partners and distributors, please contact the U.S. Commercial Service in Burma. For an overview of the Burma market please visit https://www.trade.gov/burma

Other resources: OFAC Recent Actions | U.S. Department of the Treasury BIS Export Control Travel Advisory