Myanmar's rubber export down in 2019

In over two months of this fiscal year, Myanmar earned 40 million US dollars from the export of 32,835 tons of rubber, down five million US dollars compared with the same period last year, Khin Maung Lwin, assistant permanent secretary of the Ministry of Commerce told the Daily Eleven.

Till December 6 of this fiscal year, rubber export earnings amounted to 40 million US dollars. Last year, Myanmar earned 45 million US dollars from exports of over 36,805 tons of rubber.

Rubber is mainly grown in Mon, Kayin, Yangon, Bago and Taninthayi.

There are nearly 500,000 acres of rubber plantations in Mon State and nearly 270,000 acres in Kayin State. The total rubber growing area across the country is around 1,600,000 acres.

The total rubber production is around 200,000 tons. More than 90 per cent of rubber go to other countries and the remaining eight per cent is for domestic use. China is a major rubber importer for Myanmar, according to Myanmar Rubber Growers and Producers Association.

In addition to China, Myanmar exports its rubber to Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and India.

At the 15th regular meeting between the Private Sector Development Committee led by Vice-President-1 and entrepreneurs, on March 7, Khin Myint, Secretary of Myanmar Rubber Growers and Producers Association submitted a plan to establish the special rubber zones in the rubber-growing regions and states for the production of raw and finished rubber.

Local rubber industries are facing difficulties as they have no advanced technology and raw rubber sheets don’t get good prices.