According to the Ministry of Commerce of Myanmar, the country earned approximately USD 16.43 million from the export of 13,800 tons of rubber via maritime trade in January 2023. During the month, 9,220 tons were shipped to China, 3,377 tons to Malaysia, 690 tons to India, 480 tons to Japan, and a small quantity to Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, border exports accounted for 1,200 tons to Thailand and 1,090 tons to China, valued at around USD 2.73 million. The total export volume reached 16,090 tons, worth USD 19.16 million, across both maritime and border channels—representing a decrease of 6,300 tons (USD 8 million) compared with December 2022.
Up to early February 2023, Myanmar had exported over 200,000 tons of rubber in the 2022 – 2023 fiscal year, with China remaining the primary destination. Other export markets include South Korea, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Japan. For the current fiscal year, the government has set a target of 300,000 tons of rubber exports.
Rubber cultivation in Myanmar is concentrated in Taninthayi Region and Mon State, as well as in Yangon, Bago, Ayeyawady, and Kayin State. The country has over 1 million hectares of rubber plantations, with an estimated annual output of 400,000 tons. Mon State is the leading producer, accounting for over 500,000 hectares and more than 100,000 tons of annual rubber production.
According to Khaing Myint, Secretary-General of the Myanmar Rubber Planters and Producers Association (MRPPA):
“About 70% of our rubber is exported to China, while the rest goes to Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Japan, and India through sea routes and official border trade. Currently, local rubber prices are around USD 1,250–1,300 per ton, compared with the global market price of approximately USD 1,700.”
The MRPPA noted that Myanmar is increasingly focusing on value-added rubber exports and implementing plans to develop high-grade rubber production. These initiatives include workshops with international experts and training programs for local producers in Thailand and Malaysia to adopt modern rubber-processing technologies and enhance competitiveness.