The Mon State Rubber Enterprise Association is seeing a considerable increase in the demand for high-quality rubber sheets (RSS) to export, which will benefit rubber farmers.
“Due to global demand, the price for RSS 1 (high quality rubber sheets) has improved. Farmers who produced thick rubber sheets are now producing thin sheets. The thin sheets have a better market. Prior to the increased demand, the rubber group had been advising the farmers to produce thin sheets. Now, we do not need to do it because the market price has become obvious,” said U Aung Shwe, of Mon State Rubber Enterprise Association.
China is the major buyer of thin rubber (or RSS type), and India and Singapore are showing more interest. U Aung Shwe, anticipates that for the upcoming years, more rubber products will be exported.
Business people and farmers will be encouraged to invest in small factories to produce more thin rubber sheets.
“Before, we only produced thick rubber because it’s fast. We did not have to do much. We just had to dry it under the sun. But yes, we did not get a good price. But now, we produce the thin rubber sheet and make it clean, and work carefully. We check to ensure there is no sand and stones in the sheets. We can do this efficiently now and we get good prices,” said Ko Maung Khine, a local rubber farmer in Thanbyuzayat Township.
One pound of rubber – RSS 1 type for export is priced between 960 and 1000 Kyat, while the price for internal markets is 800 Kyat.
U Aung Shwe believes that the rubber market will prosper if export demand continues to increase. This will be very beneficial for domestic rubber farmers. He also encouraged state level organizations or NGOs to collaborate to help develop the sector.
49% of rubber production in Myanmar is from Mon State, and the state produces 100,000 tons of rubber annually. Mon State accounts for 30% of the country’s rubber plantation areas.
