Myanmar: Teak and pyinkado trade

  • July 07, 2010
  • • Source: ITTO's Tropical Timber Market Report
  • • Views: 7528
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Teak buying for the Thai market is completely stagnant while demand for pyinkado from China and Vietnam was steady through June 2010. India remains the biggest importer of both teak and pyinkado in June 2010. Some buyers reported an oversupply of pyinkado logs in the Indian market.

Impact of exchange rates on timber market
The Myanmar Timber Enterprise uses Euro in its tender sales and US$ in its direct sales contracts. Some traders have been able to take advantage of fluctuating exchange rates and so the trade has picked up. According to some analysts, a slight easing of sales and shipments is possible if exchange rates become more stable.
India is experiencing a shortfall of logs stemming from the log export ban in Gabon. As a result, India continues to buy Myanmar teak, despite the recent depreciation of the Rupee against the US dollar. The US$ exchange rate was Rs. 44.41 on 2nd April and Rs. 47.71 on 25th May. However, the Indian teak buying market absorbed the exchange rate differentials even when the US$ rose to above Rs. 50.
Teak remains in demand in India and the steady flow of teak from Myanmar to India is expected to continue, says an analyst. However, India has a substantial stock of teak on its own to exploit if importing becomes uneconomic.

MTE list prices
The following price tables show Myanmar Timber Enterprise (MTE) list prices for direct sales contracts in use since September 2008. All prices quoted are US$ per Hoppus ton. Current tender market prices are US$200 to 250 per Hoppus ton over the MTE list prices.

MTE list prices MTE list prices on teak logs (US$ per Hoppus ton)
Grade
Special Area
1st Class Area
2nd Class Area
3rd Class Area
Avg.
Sawing Grade-3
2528
2402
2275
2149
2339
Sawing Grade-5
2281
2167
2053
1939
2110
Sawing Grade-6
1685
1601
1517
1432
1559
Special Area: Gangaw, Pakokku, Kalay (Chin)
1st Class Area: Taungdwingyi, Pyinmana, Thayet, Minbu, Toung-Oo, Shwebo, Monywa, Aunglan, Pyay;
2nd Class Area: Zigon, Thayawaddi, Kawlin, Momeik, Lashio, Taunggyi, Pyin-Oo-Lwin, North Bago, Katha;
3rd Class Area: Pa-an, Hinthada, Mawlike, East Katha, South Bago, Myitkyeena, Bhamo.


MTE list prices on teak logs in all areas (US$ per Hoppus ton)
Sawing Grade-7
1174
Sawing Grade-8
871
Short Logs
2368
Log-ends
1392
Posts (2'-2'11'')
721
Poles (1'-1'11'')
577
Tops & lops
431

MTE list prices on pyinkado and kanyin (Gurjan) logs
(US$ per Hoppus ton)
Pyinkado export quality
Bago East Area
678
Bago West Area
666
Other areas
642
Kanyin
Mon-ywa/Mo-meik/Maw-laik/Ma-bein areas 375
Rakhine area
360
Other areas
375

Myanmar

Myanmar Log Prices (natural forests)
Teak Logs, FOB
€ Avg per Hoppus Ton
(traded volume)
Veneer Quality
May
Jun
2nd Quality nil 6,600
(3 tons)
3rd Quality 6,129
(4 tons)
6,388
(5 tons)
4th Quality 5,348
(10 tons)
5,009
(10 tons)
Sawing Quality

Grade 1 (SG-1) 3,257
(30 tons)
3,095
(38 tons)
Grade 2 (SG-2) 2,494
(41 tons)
2,633
(45 tons)
Grade 3 (SG-3) nil nil
Grade 4 (SG-4) 1,945
(219 tons)
2,045
(210 tons)
Grade 5 (SG-5) Assorted 1,484
(119 tons)
1,206
(124 tons)
Grade 6 (SG-6) Domestic 1,011
(101 tons)
1,040
(112 tons)
Grade 7 (ER-1) 807
(152 tons)
839
(77 tons)
Grade 8 (ER-2) nil 591
(8 tons)
Short Logs 6 ft. / 7 ft.
nil nil

Hoppus ton=1.8m³; All grades, except SG-3/5/6, are length 8' x girth 5' &up. SG-3/4/6 are girth 4' &up. SG-3 grade is higher than SG-4 but with lower girth and price.
Prices differ due to quality or girth at the time of the transaction.

Hardwood log prices
Logs FOB
€ per hoppus ton
Pyinkado
616 (86 tons)
Gurjan (keruing-exp)
234 (491 tons)
Tamalan (export)
845 (45 tons)
Padauk

3rd Quality
3,356 (4 tons)
4th Quality
2,486 (23 tons)
Assorted Quality
1,999 (13 tons)
All prices are per hoppus ton Euro FOB, equivalent to 1.8 cu.m