Yangon—Rubber export earnings have increased by over 17 million US dollars during six months of the fiscal year though the rubber exports declined by over 14,000 tons compared with the same period last year, according to the Commerce Ministry. 

Yangon-Till 27 March of 2019-2020 FY, the country earned 130.887 million US dollars from exports of 104,330.959 tons of rubber. 

In the same period, last year, the country earned 113.887 million US dollars from exports of 118,506.959 tons of rubber. 

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

Mon State has nearly 500,000 acres of rubber plantation and Kayin State, nearly 270,000 acres. There are about 1.6 million acres of rubber plantations across the country. 

The country produces about 200,000 tons of rubber a year. More than 90 per cent of rubber are exported and around eight per cent of rubber is used in the country. Myanmar mainly exports rubber to China, according to Myanmar Rubber Growers and Producers Association. 

Myanmar also exports rubber to Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and India. 

At the 15th regular meeting between the private sector development committee led by the Vice-President-1 and local entrepreneurs, U Khaing Myint, Secretary of Myanmar Rubber Growers and Producers Association called on officials to set up rubber special zones for the international-standard rubber raw materials and finished goods.”

Raw rubber sheets get low prices due to the lack of machines and technology.