Yangon region palm oil wholesale reference price sets for three-week fall

The wholesale reference rate of palm oil for the Yangon market indicated a sharp drop of K300 per viss for a week ending 14 May within three weeks, according to the Supervisory Committee on edible oil import and distribution.
The reference price was set at K4,790 per viss from 10 to 23 April. For the week ending 1 May, the price was set lower at K4,680 per viss. Then, the price decrease persisted at K4,570 per viss during a week (2-7 May). This week from 8 to 14 May, the reference price was set at K4,500 per viss. The figures showed a drastic decrease of K290 per viss within three weeks.
The Supervisory Committee on Edible Oil Import and Distribution under the Ministry of Commerce has been closely observing the FOB prices in Malaysia and Indonesia including transport costs, tariffs and banking services, and issuing the wholesale market reference rate for edible oil every week.
Regardless of the reference price, the current market price is too high at over K6,000-7,000 per viss.
If those edible oil retailers and wholesalers are found overcharging, storing inventory intentionally and attempting unscrupulous action to manipulate the market, they will face legal action under the Essential Supplies and Service Act, MoC released a statement.
The Ministry of Commerce is striving for consumers not to worry over the supply of edible oil. The ministry is also trying to secure edible oil sufficiency, supervise the market to offer reasonable prices to the consumers and maintain price stability.
At present, mobile market trucks operated by oil importing companies, in coordination with Myanmar Edible Oil Dealers’ Association, were back to business in some townships on 17 July to offer palm oil at a subsidized rate. They offer palm oil at a fairer price to the consumers directly depending on the reference price. However, there are limited sources of supply although they directly sell the palm oil at reference rate depending on the volume quota.
The domestic consumption of edible oil is estimated at a million tonnes per year. The local cooking oil production is just about 400,000 tonnes. To meet the oil sufficiency in the domestic market, about 700,000 tonnes of cooking oil are yearly imported through Malaysia and Indonesia. — NN/EM