27 july

Magway Region primarily produces raw materials of petrified wood, and nature lovers are keen on petrified Wood Park in the region, said petrified wood collectors. 

If the petrified wood park exists in the region, it will become a new tourist destination, said Deputy Director U Myint Sein of regional Directorate of Hotels and Tourism. 

It will create job opportunities for residents, have a fair market for exports, and raise the value of the natural resource. 

The petrified wood is found in 16 out of 25 townships of Magway Region. “It is around 20 years that they have been commercially produced. It is also an export item for China border market. We can earn revenue if we create the park in the region,” said a petrified wood collector. 

It is better if we can create a park or make value-added products. This way, it can earn more revenues, said the collectors. 

If we can create the petrified wood park, the students and researchers can discover more findings, according to Green Network. 

“Earlier, more than 30 companies were exporting petrified wood. But, a mismatch between supply and demand led to a drastic decline in prices. Now, only six companies are engaged in their export,” said U Thi Han Tun, chair of the Mandalay Region Petrified Wood Entrepreneurs Association.

“The market is solely dependent on demand from China. The market has cooled since late 2014. Price manipulation and illegal trade have brought down the number of exporter companies,” he added. Myanmar allowed the export of petrified wood in 2012, and China is the only market for it. Higher supply, lack of price regulations, and the conditions in the Chinese market have led to market deterioration after 2014. Some traders are exporting them through the illegal trade channel, he stated.

Petrified wood is found in the central regions of Myanmar — Mandalay, Sagaing, and Magway. Petrified wood mined from Mahlaing and Natogyi townships in Mandalay is of high quality, while Magway and other regions only produce raw materials which can be used for interior decoration.

Zayyatu/ Khine Set Wai (Translated by Ei Myat Mon)