More than 8,000 tons of rubber were exported from Myanmar in February, said rubber exporters.
“We exported 8,042 tons of rubbers through the Muse, Chin Shwe Haw and Myeik border trade points in February, netting more than US$23 million,” said a spokesperson from the department of border trade.
Local rubber prices vary with global prices, and in February Myanmar rubber prices fell along with the decreasing global prices.
On March 11, the price of rubber was $3,090 per ton of RSS-1, $3,040 per a ton of RSS-3 and MSR, and $2,950 per a ton of MSS-5 and MSR-50.
In Myanmar, rubber is mostly grown in Mon State. It is also found in Tanintharyi and Bago Divisions and in Kayin State.
The main purchaser countries are China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea, Vietnam and India. Due to lack of technology, the exporters only trade rubber as a raw material.
China, Singapore and Malaysia are the largest importers of Myanmar’s rubber, according to rubber exporters in Myanmar.
“Other countries that are importing Myanmar’s rubber include Indonesia, Korea, Vietnam, India and Thailand,” said Khine Myint, the secretary of Myanmar Rubber Planters and Producers Association.
Kyaw Lwin Oo, a rubber plantation owner, said that Mon State is the main producer of rubber in Myanmar, but rubber plantations are also found in Tanintharyi [Tenasserim] and Bago [Pegu] regions and Kayin [Karen] State.
Due to lack of advanced technology, rubber producers in Myanmar can export only raw rubber, he said.
Another Myanmar rubber exporter said, “Five hundred tons of rubber was exported to Singapore and Malaysia via sea routes between February 10 and 16. And we exported 1,141 tons of rubber to China and Thailand through border trade.”
On February 26, the price of RSS-1 rubber ranged from US $3,000 to $3,100 per ton, according to Myanmar Rubber Planters and Producers Association.
Source: mizzima.com
