TIMBER experts are calling for greater use of hardwoods other than teak. They say the country can earn more, and promote conservation, by exporting the other hardwoods grown here.

Hardwood, high-quality wood whose durability and good appearance appeals to furniture makers, has long been an important product of Myanmar.

“Customers prefer teak because of its quality. They use other kinds of hardwoods only for things like scaffolding and window-frames.

But they should also be aware that there are high-quality hardwoods that can be used like teak,” said U Win Naing, deputy general manager of Myanma Timber Enterprise.

U Win Naing said Myanmar grows some 80 kinds of hardwood. Of these, teak is most in demand because of its quality.

“Everybody [in Myanmar] is responsible for the conservation of teak resources and we could earn more foreign currency if we could other hardwoods instead of teak,” U Win Naing said.

He said if demand for furniture made from other hardwoods were to rise, manufacturers could produce more quality products, a possible way of expand the country’s international market share.

Myanmar hardwoods include In, Kanyin, Htaukkyant, Ingyin and Thityar. Teak production 200,000 tons a year, while other hardwoods account for 1.3 million tons a year, said U Win Naing.

The secretary general of Myanmar Forest Products and Timber Merchants’ Association (MFPTM), U Nay Htun Min, said: “The local furniture industry uses mostly teak. But furniture made of processed hardwood is much cheaper”, adding the price of the furniture made from In and Kanyin is 30 percent lower than that of teak-made articles.

One furniture maker in Yangon also said the price of other hardwood is one third cheaper than teak, suggesting more use in hardwood instead of teak on the ground of price difference.

“We could use hardwood for indoor furniture and teak for outdoor use,” said U Barber Cho, central executive member of MFPTM, thus freeing up more teak for export.

“Consumers should make use of cheaper hardwood furniture that lasts about 10 years, so that the use of teak can be reduced as a conservation measure,” he said, adding that half of all teak produced is exported to Indonesia and Vietnam.

An official from the Myanma Timber Enterprise said hardwood exports took the form of logs rather than furniture because of the rapidly changing furniture prices and designs in the world market.

“The price gap is not big in the long run,” said U Nay Htun Min.