Fuel prices triple in Sittwe, forcing some stations to close

By Admin 06 Mar 2026

DMG Newsroom                  

6 March 2026, Sittwe

Fuel prices have nearly tripled in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State still held by Myanmar’s military regime, forcing several local filling stations to shut down, according to residents.

Locals reported that the price of 92 Octane surged from approximately K17,000–K18,000 per liter to K40,000 per liter on the evening of March 4. The steep price hike has persisted through today.

“Following the military regime’s announcement yesterday, the price of fuel jumped to K40,000 per liter. It was around K17,000 just a few days ago. We fear it might climb even higher,” a female resident of Sittwe told DMG.

The global energy crisis, driven by rising oil and gas prices amid instability in the Middle East, has further exacerbated the situation.

Domestically, fuel shortages and price hikes intensified across Myanmar after the military regime issued a directive on March 4 urging the public to conserve fuel. The policy’s ripple effects reached Sittwe almost immediately.

“Fuel was already expensive at over K10,000 per liter, but these global and domestic shocks have sent prices through the roof. Some people are hoarding fuel out of fear of a total shortage, which allows sellers to raise prices further. We can’t even afford to put fuel in our motorcycles now. We just hope this isn’t a long-term trend,” said a male resident.

Sittwe relies on cargo ships from Yangon for fuel and basic commodities. However, these shipments are irregular, often arriving only once a month. Residents are now concerned that other essential goods will follow the same inflationary trend.

Currently, the prices of medicine and basic foodstuffs have already soared. A strip of Biogesic or Air-X now costs K10,000, while a strip of Paracetamol has reached K7,500.

In the food market, a bag of high-grade Shwebo Paw Hsan Hmwe rice is priced at K260,000. Onions are selling for K7,500 per viss, dried chili for K35,000 per viss, and a bag of charcoal has risen to K35,000.

“Commodity prices fluctuate depending on the arrival of cargo ships. When no ships arrive, prices skyrocket. Medicine prices remain consistently high and are unaffordable for many. People are struggling just to eat; it’s a situation where everyone is fighting for survival,” another local man explained.

The crisis is compounded by escalating conflict in Sittwe Township, as the Arakan Army (AA) intensifies its offensive.

The military regime has responded with daily heavy artillery fire and has kept the city under a tight blockade, leaving residents fearful of what may happen if the fighting escalates further.