Fuel prices double in Arakan Army-held areas amid panic buying

By Admin 11 Mar 2026

DMG Newsroom

11 March 2026, Kyauktaw

Fuel prices have doubled in areas controlled by the Arakan Army (AA) in Arakan State, triggering panic buying and stockpiling among residents and merchants.

The price of Indian-imported fuel has risen from K6,500 per liter to K10,000, while Octane 92 has increased from K8,000 to K12,000 per liter.

Merchants say global repercussions involving Iran have contributed to the rapid increase, with fuel prices in areas controlled by the Arakan Army doubling within a week and further hikes expected.

“As soon as fuel from India reaches the Arakan State market, businessmen buy up the entire stock directly from the boats. Some are stockpiling it to sell only when prices peak. Although the purchase price from India has not increased drastically, price manipulation at various stages of the supply chain has pushed costs up to this level,” an Arakanese fuel merchant said.

Reports indicate that the price of one barrel of gasoline has surged from K1.3 million last week to more than K2.1 million, while the price of a barrel of diesel has risen from K1.2 million to more than K2 million.

Merchants noted that while fuel prices in India have only fluctuated slightly, high transportation costs, including truck and motorboat fees to bring fuel into Arakan State, are a major factor behind the price increase.

“The fuel price increase is incredibly fast. Today’s price is different from yesterday’s. Yesterday, when I went to buy a barrel of fuel, I heard it was K1.8 million before I left. By the time I reached the market, there were only a few barrels left. When I asked the price, one barrel of Indian fuel had already exceeded K2 million. Small-scale retailers like us now have to sell at these inflated prices,” said a female fuel vendor in Kyauktaw.

Due to instability in the Middle East, fuel prices are rising across Myanmar, and Arakan State is increasingly facing daily fuel price pressures.

Already struggling with the military regime’s blockades and rising commodity prices, residents of Arakan State say the latest surge in fuel costs is adding further hardship.