Japan looks to Myanmar for supply of raw rubber

Japan is providing state of the art technology to process raw rubber and boost local production in a bid to find a new supply for its tyre manufacturing industry.

According to an MoU between the Myanmar Rubber Planters and Producers Association and Japanese manufacturers, Japan will provide technology to produce high-quality raw rubber from plantations in Yangon, Bago and Mon regions in return for exports.

“We get technology from Japan. They want to import rubber to their market fast if possible. Raw rubber produced in this season might be ready to export. They would import to their market if qualified,” said Khine Myint, secretary of the Myanmar Rubber Planters and Producers Association.

Japanese tyre production needs between 700,000 and 800,000 tonnes of rubber a year. Myanmar has the potential of a new supplier of raw rubber provided they are able to improve production.

“The quality of raw rubber in Myanmar needs to be improved to be able to export to Japan. After that, how much raw-rubber is produced in a year and how many tonnes can be exported will be recorded,” said Yoshio Kanai, from Japan’s Rubber Trade Association.

source: Eleven Myanmar

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