The Myanmar government is exploring an opportunity to lift the ban on export of logs from private plantation. Zaw Min, Deputy Director General of the Forestry Department has been quoted by the local media stating the Forest Department has proposed allowing the export of logs from private plantation forests. Private plantation forests have been permitted since 2006 and extend over about 80,000 ha. Around half of which is teak and the balance other are hardwoods. Currently, cutting from plantations are utilised locally but these are of small diameter and domestic mills are better equipped to peel large natural forest logs.
It is noted that Myanmar had imposed ban on natural forest log exports in April 2014, which impacted Indian Plywood industry very much because India was heavily dependent on its Face Veneer requirement of Gurjan Wood, which was imported from Myanmar. More than dozen of wood based entrepreneurs from India have invested lots of money in Myanmar for streamlining the source of Gurjan face veneers but the strict decision to ban on felling the natural forest for year by government had changed the entire scenario. Although Myanmar has
lifted the ban on logging of tree but the cost of timber is not viable of Indian Plywood industry to buy materials and Gurjan face veneer has started losing its charm resulting to the market is shifting gradually into Okume face from Gabon.
If government of Myanmar allows export of logs from private plantation, it could be a savoir step for many log and timber trading firms and peeling units located in costal areas. Despite the fact that even if this consideration becomes a limited quantity window, it will keep the Gurjan face attraction alive, though the situation entirely depends on cost of logs because Indian market is mentally and technically ready to accept economical grade Okume face veneers. The consideration on log export from Burma is just a consideration which has no certainty in the recent future, although the step may help the teak wood processer and market if the cost is at reasonable level.