Arakan State’s blood clams in high demand from Thailand

06 May 2023

DMG Newsroom
6 May 2023, Sittwe

Local blood clam breeders in Arakan State are fetching good prices for their products due to high demand from Thailand.

The average price has increased from 4,000 kyats per kilo last year to over 7,000 kyats now, blood clam dealers told DMG.

“We directly export to Thailand, mainly to seafood shops. Blood clam has become a favourite in Thailand. So, the demand is high, and we get good prices,” said blood clam seller U Kyaw Hla Maung of Myebon Township.

Blood clams are bred in around 30 villages in Myebon Township.

Blood clams are mainly bred in Myebon, Pauktaw and Taungup townships in Arakan State, and small-scale breeding is also found in Kyaukphyu and Thandwe townships.

Baby blood clams living in the wild are collected, and raised in farms. After 10 months of breeding, blood clams that have grown to sizes larger than the lid of a big water bottle are exported to Thailand.

“We need capital to expand breeding. If we have money, we can buy small clams to breed. And we also need money to hire a night watchman. We also need land to breed them. They can’t stand heat,” said blood clam breeder Daw Shwe Khe from Ywama town in Taungup.

Blood clams need proper care as they can’t bear heat, and are also vulnerable to high tide in the rainy season.

Despite blood clams fetching good prices, export has been temporarily halted due to extreme heat, said Ko Kyaw Lay Win from Ko Yan Pyin Village in Myebon Township.

“There is demand, but blood clams die on the way, so we can’t make exports,” he said.

Blood clams are believed to boost male fertility, and support liver and kidney function.