The Nation Editorial Team

• The export price of Myanmar’s GW-11 rice for the Philippine market has reached a record US$580 per tonne, significantly higher than the US$480 per tonne for rice from Thailand.
• This price increase is driven by strong and continuous demand from the Philippines, which is preparing to purchase up to five million tonnes of rice and has continued ordering the GW-11 variety.
• Myanmar’s price advantage is attributed to the superior quality of the GW-11 rice variety itself, not advanced milling technology.
• In response to the high demand, the Myanmar Rice Federation is calling for an expansion of dedicated GW-11 cultivation into new regions.

The Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) has placed the Philippine-market price of Myanmar’s GW-11 rice at around US$580 per tonne, compared with approximately US$480 for rice supplied by Thailand.

It described Myanmar’s rate as unprecedented.

Sales to the Philippines began in 2026 after the variety was first sent to China in 2024.

Supplies from Ayeyawady Region initially secured moderate prices, but subsequent demand lifted returns, with GW-11 produced in Mandalay Region also attracting stronger prices.

The federation said the Philippines was preparing to purchase up to five million tonnes of rice and had continued ordering GW-11 from Myanmar.

Across all overseas destinations, Myanmar’s rice exports exceeded 800,000 tonnes between April and August 2026.

Vietnam and Thailand also supply the Philippine rice market.

However, U Sai Kyaw, a member of the MRF Management Committee, attributed Myanmar’s price advantage to the quality of GW-11 itself rather than milling technology.

“Myanmar is receiving a record-high price compared with other rice-exporting countries,” he said.

To meet further demand, the MRF called for dedicated GW-11 cultivation to be extended to additional regions without compromising the variety’s quality.

Myanmar was also exporting substantial quantities of broken rice, with Belgium among the principal destinations.

Source: Eleven Myanmar

Published Date: August 19, 2026