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Myanmar Exports Less Teak, Hardwood in 2001

¡¾2002.04.15¡¿

Myanmar Exports Less Teak, Hardwood in 2001

(Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Myanmar exported 301,678 cubic- meters of teak in 2001,a 0.37-percent drop from 2000, according to the latest figures released by the country's Central Statistical Organization.

Meanwhile, during the year, the country exported 372,994 cubic meters of hardwood, a 24.53-percent reduction from 2000.

Export earning from teak and hardwood totaled 264.28 million U. S. dollars during 2001, accounting for 11.5 percent of Myanmar's total exports.

Timber has become Myanmar's second largest export goods after agricultural products and the country's teak enjoys a good reputation in the world. About 85 percent of the teak in the world market is produced in Myanmar.

According to other official figures, Myanmar produced about 200, 000 tons of teak from its forests each year since the fiscal year 1997-98, down from about 400,000 tons in the 1970s. Myanmar's forest covers 50 percent of its total land area, registering 33 million hectares, 7 percent less than in 1962.

To overcome teak shortage, Myanmar launched a special plantation plan five years ago and has been able to plant more than 32,400 hectares of teak.

Of the forest area, 18.6 percent are reserved and protected public forest, the percentage of which is being targeted to increase to 30.

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