{"id":9792,"date":"2026-07-23T21:06:57","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T14:36:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/?p=9792"},"modified":"2026-07-23T21:12:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T14:42:51","slug":"the-economic-impact-of-the-junta-leaders-import-restrictions-to-fund-the-civil-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/2026\/07\/the-economic-impact-of-the-junta-leaders-import-restrictions-to-fund-the-civil-war\/","title":{"rendered":"The Economic Impact of the Junta Leader\u2019s Import Restrictions to Fund the Civil War"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Myanmar Spring Chronicle \u2013 Scenes from July 22<\/em><\/h2>\n

(MoeMaKa), July 23, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

The Economic Impact of the Junta Leader\u2019s Import Restrictions to Fund the Civil War<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Reports in recent days indicate that eggs have become scarce in Yangon, with prices rising sharply. Just a few weeks ago, an egg cost around 450\u2013500 kyats, but prices have now increased to 600\u2013700 kyats each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This price surge is seen as another consequence of the military government\u2019s years-long policy of significantly restricting imports. As eggs are a daily staple, the sudden increase has raised questions about the underlying causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to poultry farmers cited in local reports, the main reason is the growing difficulty in obtaining import permits for animal feed ingredients and veterinary medicines. The resulting rise in production costs has pushed up egg prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The effects of tighter import controls have been visible for some time. Supermarkets such as City Mart have struggled to stock imported products like milk and certain kitchen essentials. At the same time, the junta has further tightened import licensing, reduced palm oil import quotas, and restricted fuel imports, despite fuel being essential for transportation, manufacturing, and logistics. These policies are now affecting domestic production as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the country remains embroiled in civil war, military spending appears to face few financial constraints. Foreign currency is needed to purchase aviation fuel, maintain aircraft and helicopters used in daily airstrikes, and import materials for arms production. One conclusion is that the regime has sharply cut civilian imports in order to preserve foreign exchange for military purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recent air operations have also become much larger in scale. Instead of deploying one or two aircraft, the military is increasingly carrying out attacks involving five to ten aircraft flying for hours at a time. The cost of these operations is believed to consume a significant share of the country\u2019s export earnings and tax revenues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fuel shortages and rising fuel prices have added to the burden. Restrictions on private vehicle use under the odd-even license plate system, initially introduced during concerns over the Iran\u2013U.S. conflict, have remained in place for several months. Outside major cities such as Yangon and Mandalay, fuel prices have climbed even higher, making it increasingly uneconomical to transport food, agricultural produce, and livestock products, further driving up consumer prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing continues to publicly urge farmers and livestock producers to increase domestic production and reduce dependence on imports. Yet many growers are reportedly forced to destroy crops such as tomatoes and cabbages because low prices and transportation costs make it unprofitable to sell them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Import restrictions along the Thai border have also fueled smuggling. Traders reportedly pay large bribes to move goods into cities like Yangon and Mandalay, and those extra costs are ultimately passed on to consumers through much higher retail prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The broader impact of the import restrictions has spread across manufacturing, trade, and service industries like a domino effect. As the prices of goods and services continue to rise while incomes remain largely stagnant, many households are forced to cut spending. At the lowest income levels, worsening economic hardship may push some people toward informal or even illegal activities as a means of survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some observers compare today\u2019s situation to the era of the Burmese Way to Socialism, when both imported and locally produced goods\u2014including sugar, candles, and cigarettes\u2014were rationed and widespread shortages became common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During that period, economic hardship was intensified by currency demonetization, eventually fueling public anger that culminated in the nationwide 1988 pro-democracy uprising. Some analysts speculate whether the current economic mismanagement under Min Aung Hlaing could produce similar public unrest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others argue that today\u2019s circumstances differ significantly from 1988. Myanmar is now in the midst of an active civil war, with large parts of the country under the control of ethnic armed organizations and People\u2019s Defense Forces (PDFs). Combined with martial law, widespread arrests, torture, and killings, these conditions may make armed resistance, rather than mass urban protests, a more likely outlet for growing public frustration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Myanmar Spring Chronicle \u2013 Scenes from July 22 (MoeMaKa), July 23, 2026 The Economic Impact of the Junta Leader\u2019s Import Restrictions to Fund the Civil War Reports in recent days indicate that eggs have become scarce in Yangon, with prices…<\/p>\n

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