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Fuel Shortage in Myanmar: 1 Liter Costs 5000 Kyats on the Black Market


Most of Myanmar's gas stations in Yangon are in short supply, with only two gas stations in Mandalay open. Hundreds of cars are lined up to buy fuel, according to local reports. Locals say that only diesel is available at the stations that have opened, and they cannot buy gasoline.


In Yangon, some taxi drivers reported long queues at petrol stations. Most of the petrol stations that are open sell only limited amounts of petrol. By this afternoon, there was a shortage of petrol at most Yangon stations, with many cars still seen queuing up.


As of 2:00 p.m. today, July 31, most stations are unable to sell 92 and 95 gasoline, and the petrol stations are crowded. Some stations have announced that they will sell again at night.


Roadside gas stations in Mandalay are selling fuel at 5,000-6,000 kyats per liter. Due to arrests, illegal roadside gas stations are now operating mobile sales. People in Mandalay are waiting in long lines to buy petrol even at small roadside stations.


The coup junta has set the price of 1 liter of 92 petrol at 2,630 kyats and 1 liter of 95 petrol at 2,750 kyats in Yangon. In Mandalay, the prices are 2,710 kyats for 92 petrol and 2,830 kyats for 95 petrol. However, there is almost a 100 percent price gap with the black market.


More than three years after the coup d'état in Myanmar, repeated printing of banknotes, increased salaries for military coup employees, and control of most border trading posts by revolutionary forces have severely depressed the domestic economy.


Today, the price of 1 US dollar is 5,300 kyats. Due to these circumstances, the price of fuel is rising because there are not enough dollars to buy fuel from abroad.


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