Myanmar resistance-held areas hit hard by global fuel crisis

A worsening fuel shortage linked to global supply disruptions is compounding hardships in Myanmar’s resistance-held territories, where communities are already under pressure due to military-imposed restrictions, according to local sources. The crisis, exacerbated by conflict in the Middle East, has disrupted fuel availability nationwide, but its impact is particularly acute in areas outside junta control that rely heavily on supplies from military-held towns or cross-border routes. In major cities such as Naypyitaw, Yangon, and Mandalay, the junta has introduced rationing measures, including alternating-day fuel purchases and weekly quotas based on vehicle engine size. Meanwhile, in areas of Sagaing, Mandalay, and Magway regions under the control of resistance forces, access has long been far more limited, resulting in significantly higher prices even before the current crisis began. Local sources say fuel continues to enter some areas through informal routes and small-scale local refining operations, but prices have at least doubled. In parts of Sagaing Region, a litre of petrol now costs between 12,500 and 15,000 kyat (roughly US$3.10-3.75), or more than 20,000 kyat ($5) in some areas. “We can still get fuel from small local refineries, but there is no guarantee of quality,” said one person living in an area of Sagaing Region held by resistance forces. The rising cost of fuel has driven up transport fees and commodity prices, forcing many residents to reduce travel or switch to bicycles and walking. Farmers have also been affected, with diesel shortages disrupting irrigation and mechanised harvesting. “People are making fewer trips and avoiding unnecessary travel,” said a fuel seller in Khin-U Township. “Agriculture is also suffering because machines can’t run without diesel.” Petrol imported from India, widely used in Arakan Army-controlled areas, is sold at rising prices amid the ongoing fuel crisis (Photo: Myanmar Now) In northern Sagaing, fuel imports from India via Nagaland and Mizoram have brought some relief, making supplies more accessible than in the south. Still, availability remains uneven. Elsewhere, resistance-held areas in Magway and Mandalay regions report similar trends, with fuel prices tripling in some townships since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran. Although shortages have not yet led to a complete collapse in supply, traders say fuel must be transported through risky and often concealed routes due to junta restrictions, which have tightened since mid-2024 on key commodities including fuel, fertiliser, and medicines. The anti-regime National Unity Government has attempted to manage supply by restricting fuel outflows from territories under its control and requiring permits for onward transport to other regions. The crisis is also affecting territories of ethnic armed groups. In areas of Rakhine State controlled by the Arakan Army, where fuel is largely imported from India, petrol prices have risen to as much as 9,000 kyat ($2.25) per litre. In northern Shan State, fuel shortages have pushed black market prices even higher. Residents say the fuel crisis is adding to the cumulative pressures of war, displacement, and airstrikes. “This is not just one problem,” said a local man in Magway. “It’s multiple layers of hardship piling on top of each other.” Despite efforts by resistance authorities, there appears to be no immediate solution, with communities across Myanmar continuing to bear the economic consequences of both internal conflict and global instability.

Myanmar resistance-held areas hit hard by global fuel crisis

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