Egg price soars to K2,500 in Kyaukphyu

By Admin 08 Aug 2026

DMG Newsroom

8 August 2026, Kyaukphyu

Prices of essential food and consumer goods have soared in the junta-controlled port town of Kyaukphyu, Arakan State, as cargo vessels from Yangon have failed to arrive, according to local sources.

Essential food and consumer goods for Kyaukphyu are typically transported from Yangon by three or four cargo vessels each month under military-managed arrangements.

However, no cargo vessels have docked in nearly a month, pushing commodity prices to almost twice their previous levels.

"An egg has cost K2,500 for about a month now. Prices for some food items have almost doubled. People were already struggling to afford food, and now the situation has become even worse," a male Kyaukphyu resident said.

In June, an egg in Kyaukphyu cost K1,500; a basket of Paw San Hmwe rice cost more than K40,000; a basket of low-grade rice cost more than K20,000; cooking oil cost K20,000 per litre; and onions cost K15,000 per viss.

However, since the second week of July, prices have risen to K2,500 per egg, more than K70,000 for a basket of Paw San Hmwe rice, K40,000 for a basket of low-grade rice, more than K25,000 per litre of cooking oil and more than K40,000 per viss for onions.

"In Yangon, an egg costs no more than around K700, while a viss of onions costs only about K8,000. I want to ask the relevant authorities in Kyaukphyu why they are allowing this to happen and urge them to regulate these prices," a female Kyaukphyu resident said.

Locals alleged that the supply chain for food and consumer goods imported into Kyaukphyu is being manipulated by the military junta and departmental officials, who resell goods at exorbitant prices for personal profit.

Previously, local merchants could directly order and sell goods by submitting import permit applications to the Township General Administration Department.

However, since late 2025, Captain Aung Phyo Oo, also known as Dat Si, from Kyaukphyu-based Light Infantry Battalion No. 34, has controlled the import licensing system, restricting permits to his associates and establishing a monopoly.

"Military officers, departmental staff and business owners close to Captain Aung Phyo Oo are mainly exploiting the situation. I want parliamentary representatives to raise this issue on behalf of the public," a civil servant residing in Kyaukphyu said.

As conflict in Kyaukphyu has continued for more than a year, residents are facing severe livelihood hardships amid widespread unemployment and strict military restrictions on fishing in local rivers and creeks.

Impoverished daily wage earners are also facing extreme hunger, with some reportedly forced to sell parts of their homes for firewood or resort to begging. Local monitors have also reported an increase in urban crime and robberies.

Meanwhile, fighting between the junta and the Arakan Army has expanded across Kyaukphyu Township, with heavy clashes ongoing since the third week of July around Sanae Town, as well as near Minpyin and Zaichaung villages.