Commodity flows into Tanintharyi Region disrupted by ongoing fighting

By Admin 17 Apr 2023

DMG Newsroom
17 April 2023, Dawei, Tanintharyi Region

Fighting has been ongoing in Mawtaung, on the Myanmar-Thai border in Tanintharyi Region, since April 13, halting the flow of goods and causing a sharp rise in the prices of basic food items, according to residents.

Clashes between the military’s Light Infantry Battalion No. 557 and a local anti-regime force broke out near Theingon, Thephyugon and Laetaung villages along the Tanintharyi-Mawtaung road from April 13 to 15.

The Tanintharyi-Mawtaung road was closed temporarily due to fierce fighting, which disrupted the flow of commodities, said a border merchant in Mawtaung town.

“Cargo trucks are trapped in Tanintharyi town. Some trucks go to the border amid the dangers. The border gate was closed during Thingyan and the flow of goods stopped,” the border trader added.

The prices of basic foodstuffs and fuel in Mawtaung have spiked as a result, according to residents.

“The prices of rice, food and fuel are going up. The prices of other food items went up by 15 to 20 baht,” said a resident of Mawtaung.

The price of a sack of Paw Hsan Mwe rice is sold for 1,000 baht (1,000 baht is equivalent to around K100,000), the price for a bottle of cooking oil ranges from 500 baht from 200 baht, and one litre of fuel costs around 100 baht, according to residents in Mawtaung.

“Myanmar currency is not used much in Mawtaung, so we have to buy goods in Thai baht. The commodity prices are skyrocketing due to the road closure during Thingyan. We have to buy goods smuggled from Thailand,” said a grocer in Mawtaung.

Myanmar mainly exports rubber, marine products and bananas to Thailand through the Mawtaung border gate, and imports basic foodstuffs, medicine and construction materials from its Southeast Asian neighbour.