Deputy Minister informs oil traders and companies of plan to reduce edible oil import quotas and allocations

Yangon, July 14 Under the directive of Vice President U Myo Soe, Union Minister for Commerce Deputy Minister Min Min has informed oil traders and companies of a plan to reduce edible oil imports into the country and the edible oil quota allocations, according to a source from UMFCCI speaking to Khit Thit Media. It is understood that a meeting was held in the Ministry of Commerce in Nay Pyi Taw during the last week of June, inviting the Edible Oil Association and edible oil importing companies, where the plan to reduce edible oil imports into the country and the edible oil quotas allocated by region was announced. It is learned from the UMFCCI source that this reduction in edible oil imports and quotas was directed by Vice President U Myo Soe, and is being implemented by Deputy Minister Min Min. Specifically, it is planned to reduce the edible oil allocation for Yangon Region from the original over 14,000 tons per month to over 6,000 tons. Due to this situation where the edible oil quota is being reduced by more than half, it is understood that edible oil prices in the external market in various townships of Yangon Region have risen disproportionately. It is learned from Yangon residents that starting from the beginning of July, Yangon Region will only allow the purchase of 50 ticals of edible oil per person per month, and the price in the external edible oil market has risen to around 16,000 to 20,000 kyats per viss (approximately 1.6 kg). "The matter of reducing the edible oil quota was informed to the oil association and companies at a meeting held at the Ministry of Commerce in Nay Pyi Taw in the last week of June. Deputy Minister Min Min is doing this under the directive of Vice President U Myo Soe. For Yangon Region, it is understood that it will be reduced from over 14,000 tons of oil per month to over 6,000 tons. Now, oil prices have risen sharply in the external market," said the UMFCCI source. It is understood that the committee for the supervision of edible oil import, storage, and distribution businesses controls the monthly edible oil import quotas into Myanmar and the quotas allocated to companies for edible oil imports. It is learned from information obtained by Khit Thit and from the UMFCCI source that there are inequalities and bribery among companies in the allocation of edible oil import quotas by the committee led by Deputy Minister Min Min, and that companies with close ties are given more opportunities. Furthermore, it is understood that Deputy Minister Min Min has granted a company closely associated with him the right to transport edible oil to all regions and states except Yangon Region, and has allowed transportation at rates higher than the external market transportation costs. "The issues related to SKD vehicles, EV vehicles, edible oil, and online licenses, which Deputy Minister Min Min is in charge of, have been consistently problematic. He only knows how to take bribes and lacks supervision and management. He has granted a company closely associated with him the right to transport edible oil throughout the country, except for Yangon Region, at a higher rate than external vehicle charges," said the UMFCCI source. It has been investigated and found that Ko Kyaw Kyaw Lwin, the secretary of the committee for the supervision of edible oil import, storage, and distribution businesses, served as the director of the Consumer Affairs Department in Yangon Region from 2023 to the early part of 2026 and engaged in large-scale bribery. It is understood that during Ko Kyaw Kyaw Lwin's tenure, he collaborated with U Ye Myint Maung from UMFCCI, U Aung Shwe from the Foodstuff Association, and U Hlaing Myo, the secretary of the Oil Association, to profit from edible oil that should have been sold to the public in Yangon Region and allocated to factories. It is understood that during the period of rising edible oil prices, only superficial inspections were conducted under the guise of "ground inspections," with photos taken and posted on social media, and no effective solutions were provided for the fact that people in various townships were not receiving their edible oil quotas and were buying at excessively high prices. "They say they will conduct ground inspections because oil prices are high, but they only do superficial inspections, take photos, and post them online. Even if you call the oil association to order oil, you can't get it anymore. They act as if they don't know that people in the townships are not receiving their oil quotas and are buying at very high prices," explained the UMFCCI source. It is understood that in Yangon city, in June of last year, a large number of edible oil drums were applied for and obtained under the pretext of factory use, and these were then sold on the black market, leading to investigations of those involved. Deputy Minister Min Min of Commerce and Trade is a graduate of the 33rd intake of the Defence Services Academy and transferred from the rank of Captain to serve in the Ministry of Commerce and Trade as a civilian official. He subsequently served in various positions within the Ministry of Commerce and Trade, including Director, Deputy Director-General, Director-General, Permanent Secretary, and Deputy Minister, before becoming Deputy Minister under the Min Aung Hlaing administration.