CNI News

5 May 2025

The increase in prices of some goods due to the earthquake in Mandalay and Sagaing Regions is due to an imbalance between supply and demand, as well as greedy traders, a tourism entrepreneur told CNI News. 

The prices have increased is also due to the damage to cropland because of the earthquake, the high demand for construction materials, and the difficulty in transportation due to the damage to roads and bridges, they said.

"Another reason is that prices are rising due to the inappropriate greed of merchants. For example, in places like Magway Region, where were not affected by the earthquake, construction materials and cement prices are rising. This means that the price increases for these items could be due to an imbalance between supply and demand, or it could be due to the extreme greed of these traders. If supply and demand are not balanced, the government and relevant organizations should ensure that goods in high demand are imported and brought to the market in a timely manner. Only then will the public who have lost their homes and belongings due to the earthquake not be burdened by rising prices.” said a tourism entrepreneur.

In an emergency situation, the government can negotiate with relevant traders or, if the goods are imported from abroad, change tax supervision policies, and, as an exception, change import and export policies to reduce prices, he said. 

Additionally, the public is enduring and overcoming the impact of rising commodity prices in regions and states that were hit by the earthquake, Dr. Nyo Nyo Thin, founder of the Yangon Watch, told CNI News.

“Transportation has become difficult. Production has decreased. People who grow vegetables have to transport their products from one place to another. Transport costs have become very expensive. I will only talk about the price of food. The price of oil has not decreased either. All of that has led up to rising prices. Prices are always rising in this country. There was also damage in Naypyidaw due to the earthquake, so Naypyidaw is struggling to resume its normal operations," said Dr. Nyo Nyo Thin.

On March 28, 2025, a strong earthquake destroyed 48,834 houses and 5,275 pagodas in Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay Region, Sagaing Region, Bago Region, and Shan State, and damaged 198 irrigation dams, 148 bridges, and the Yangon-Naypyidaw-Mandalay highway and railway sections.

In addition, 148 sections along the expressway were damaged, according to a SAC press release.