Attachments
The MAU tracks market prices in Central and Northern Rakhine State and Chin State. Data are collected from three vendors per product per market in the last week of each month.1 Data and product specifications are available online through the MPR dashboard at www.themimu.info/market-analysis-unit.
KEY FINDINGS
-
Cooking oil prices rose 12% further in July as transportation costs pushed essential food prices higher;
-
Some vegetables prices rose 30%, although other vegetable prices also fell by as much as 30%;
-
The price of fish products rose 10-16% in July as fishermen reported increasing operating costs;
-
Toothpaste and detergent prices rose 10-20%, climbing at a pace similar to June;
-
Charcoal prices rose 27% as electricity cuts continued to boost demand and in turn strain supply;
-
Hygiene NFI prices remained 300% above 2023, and other NFIs—while stable in July—were still 100% higher;
-
Shipping costs are likely to push prices up in August, as fuel prices climb and transportation links fray;
-
Myebon households may face particular stress, after two consecutive months of very steep price hikes.
Product-Level Price Changes
Essential Foods – Rising transportation costs lifted essential food prices in July. Prices for higher-quality rice rose 6% in July, although lower-quality rice prices were fairly stable. Cooking oil prices rose at least 12% in most markets monitored, while prices for pulse held steady for a second straight month. Meybon saw the steepest price hikes for essential foods in July.
Vegetables – Shifts in supply increased prices for some vegetables while lowering prices for others. Prices for green chili and garlic rose 30-33% in July, while prices for onion and long bean fell 18-30% on reports of increased supply. Eggplant and watercress prices were fairly stable in July. Kyauktaw saw the steepest vegetable price increases in July.
Meat and Fish – Fish prices rose in July and fishermen said their operating costs were rising. Prices for fish paste and dried fish rose 10-16% in July, although prices for fresh fish and chicken were stable. Shrimp prices fell 8% in July partly due to increased monsoon season supply.
Hygiene Products – Prices for hygiene products rose another 10-20% in July amid rising transportation costs. Toothpaste and detergent prices rose another 19-20% in July, and soap prices rose 10%. Prices for sanitary pads were stable in July. Prices for hygiene products increased most dramatically in Myebon.
Other NFIs – Electricity cuts boosted charcoal prices in July, but other NFIs were relatively stable. Charcoal prices rose 27% in July and longyi prices rose 5-12%, but most other NFI prices were relatively stable. Minbya and Rathedaung saw a mix of rising and falling NFI prices, while in other markets prices were stable or rising. NFI prices rose steeply in Meybon.