Skyrocketing commodity prices deepen hardships for Sittwe residents

By Admin 17 Dec 2025

DMG Newsroom

17 December 2025, Sittwe

Residents of Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State still under the control of Myanmar’s military regime, say they are facing growing hardships as prices of basic commodities continue to soar.

In Sittwe, the price of one bag of charcoal has risen to K60,000, while a single stick of firewood now costs nearly K1,000.

“We are using firewood to cook because charcoal is so expensive. Even a bundle of four small sticks costs K1,300. It is not even enough to cook a pot of rice,” said a local woman.

Residents said that with charcoal prices skyrocketing and a cart of 400 firewood sticks costing up to K500,000, many households now have rice but no fuel to cook it.

Some residents are reportedly demolishing unoccupied houses on the outskirts of Sittwe and selling the materials as firewood.

Prices of food and fuel have also surged. One bag of high-grade Paw Hsan Hmwe rice now costs K270,000, one viss of dried chili sells for K20,000, and one liter of fuel costs K20,000.

“Now that petrol prices are rising, I can’t ride a motorbike anymore and have to use a bicycle. A bag of charcoal that cost K40,000 yesterday is K60,000 today. It’s very difficult to cook. Even using firewood costs around K1,000 per stick,” said another woman.

The military regime has blocked all entrances and exits to Sittwe, and food and consumer goods are being transported by sea from Yangon using large cargo ships.

However, residents said that because there is no fixed schedule for cargo ship arrivals, commodity prices remain unstable and fluctuate frequently.

Residents added that many households are undernourished due to unemployment, widespread casual labor, low incomes, and rising prices.

“Most people are unemployed, so without work and income their livelihoods are severely affected. Some do odd jobs, while others rely on donations. Almost everyone is in need and hoping for relief,” said a local man.

According to residents, some Arakan political parties are campaigning in Sittwe by distributing rice and bread to neighborhoods.

There has been ongoing fighting between the military regime and the Arakan Army in Sittwe Township, with the military reportedly firing heavy weapons daily around Sittwe and in Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, and Pauktaw townships.