Fuel shortage drives commodity transport costs upsurge

The transport cost of goods has surged significantly, attributed to challenges in acquiring fuel, as reported by truck drivers from the Bayintnaung Wholesale Market.
While the expense of transporting goods between Yangon and Pathein has risen, the cost between Yangon and Hinthada has remained steady.
For instance, the transport charge for a 20-viss bag of chilli from Yamethin to Yangon’s Bayintnaung Wholesale Market is K4,000 and has not changed, according to a chilli trader.
Transporting sugarcane from Shan State to Yangon costs between K130 and K170 per viss, depending on the distance. Conversely, delivering perishable goods like cabbages and tomatoes is priced at K200 per viss for swift delivery.
As noted by Ko Myint, an onion and potato trader, the transport cost for onions from Myingyan to Yangon has increased to K155 per viss for fast delivery. On the other hand, transporting onions from Seikphyu to Yangon costs K120 per viss for standard delivery.
In the delta area, where highway roads are typically around 100 miles long, only 10 gallons of fuel are required for a one-way route. The report highlights that drivers face no fuel procurement difficulties along this route. However, longer expressways spanning 300 and 400 miles present challenges in refuelling.
A significant increase in transport costs is observed in moving chilli from Yangon to Myawady, escalating from K175 per viss to K550 due to road blockades along the journey. Only small vehicles can navigate through such situations, resulting in limited chilli deliveries. — TWA/TMT