Caption: A jade expo is held in Nay Pyi Taw. (EMG)

Myanmar earned over US$10 million from jade exports in the fiscal year up to May 19 – more than the amount over the same period last year, the Ministry of Commerce has said.

“We exported jade worth of about US$9 million in March, as a jade exhibition was held in that month,” the ministry’s assistant secretary Khin Maung Lwin said.

“We exported a little number of jade before that because we only exported remnants of jade, which are left after sales in exhibitions.”

Myanmar is excavates jade from Lone Khin and Hpakant, as well as rubies from Mogok and Monghsu. Sapphire and other jewels are also found in Mogok.

Myanmar sold 4,267 raw and finished jade stones worth over Ks61 billion (over US$44 million) in open tenders at the jade exhibition held from March 19 to 24 in Nay Pyi Taw.

The exhibition was set up for small jewel traders from Mogok, Sagaing and Mandalay and only local money was used.

Jade exhibitions for local traders were also held in August 2011, December 2012, January and October 2014, plus December 2015.