Rice prices have increased by around K5000 a bag compared to prices in pre-Thingyan period, Ko Kyaw Ko told the Global New Light of Myanmar (GNLM) after visiting Wardan rice wholesale center, which re-opened on 22 April after Thingyan holidays,.
In the first week of April, a variety of summer low-grade rice, thee-htet thee-pu was K74,500-K75,000 a bag and it has increased to K78,500-K80,000 while another low-grade rice moe-nan-kar was K86,000 a bag on 22 April.
90-day low-grade rice per bag was opened at K95,000 in pre-Thingyan period but no trade was seen, it was sold at K93,000-K97,000 on 22 April.
Pawkywel price remained unchanged at K97,000. Pyapon pawsan and Myaungmya pawsan prices per bag were K130,000-K135,000 and K140,000-K145,000 respectively on 22 April, up from K125,000-K130,000 and K135,000-K140,000 in pre-Thingyan period.
Shwebo pawsan price per bag was around K160,000. Wholesale price of Myaungmya pawsan was K135.000-K140,000 but it was sold at K152,000 a bag in Yangon retail market.
Low-grade sticky rice price declined to K78,000 in pre-Thingyan period but increased back to K83,000-K85,000 on 22 April, while high-grade sticky rice was K88,000-K90,000 a bag and broken sticky rice was K75,000 a bag.
Ko Kyaw Min from Pabedan Township told GNLM that he bought Shwebo pawsan at K750,000 a bag after 2023 Thingyan to consume for the whole year but in the same period this year, he has to buy Shwebo pawsan at around K170,000 a bag.
Prices of most varieties of rice in Yangon market have risen up in post-Thingyan period but there has been no sharp increase in demand, with just a few buyers who would refill their stock which ran out during Thingyan holidays.
In Yangon rice market, not only sellers but also consumers have been watching the changes in mid-year rice price. Consumers have been worried over rice price, which tends to change depending on rice millers and traders who have stocked rice in the middle of the year.
TWA/ZS
