Yangon—Rubber export earnings declined by 23 million US dollars in around seven months as the rubber export volume declined by over 18,000 tons compared with the same period last year, said U Khin Maung Lwin, Assistant Permanent Secretary of the Commerce Ministry.
Till 23 April of 2019-20 fiscal year, Myanmar earned 138 million US dollars from the exports of 110,000 tons of rubber.
The same period last year, Myanmar earned 161 million US dollars from exports of 128,000 tons of rubber.
Rubber is mainly grown in Mon, Kayin, Yangon, Bago and Taninthayi.
Mon State has nearly 500,000 acres of rubber plantations while Kayin State has nearly 270,000 acres of rubber plantations. The total rubber growing area is about 1.6 million acres.
Myanmar produces about 200,000 tons of rubber a year and exports 90 per cent of rubber. Myanmar uses only eight per cent of rubber. Myanmar’s rubber goes mainly to China, according to Myanmar Rubber Growers and Producers Association. In addition to China, Myanmar mainly 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 Vice-President-1 on 7 March, U Khaing Myint, Secretary of Myanmar Rubber Growers and Exporters Association submitted a plan to establish the special rubber zone for the production of international standard raw materials and finished rubber products.
