THE wholesale reference rate of palm oil set for the Yangon market remained unchanged at K6,610 per viss for the three consecutive weeks from 15 September to 5 October 2025, according to the Supervisory Committee on Edible Oil Import and Distribution.

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, add­ing transport costs, tariffs and banking services to decide the wholesale market reference rate for edible oil weekly.

Despite the reference price, the market price is way too high. To control overcharging, the Consumer Affairs Department under the Ministry of Com­merce informed consumers of lodging complaints for over­charging through the call cen­tre hotline in late August. The department urges consumers not to buy palm oil at high prices. The Committee notified that any person who is involved in price gouging and oil storage to at­tempt market manipulation will face legal action under the Es­sential Goods and Services Law.

The department is working together with the Myanmar Oil Dealers’ Association and the cooking oil importing companies to offer affordable rates of im­ported palm oil for consumers. The complaints for overcharging can be lodged over hotline 1535 of the call centre of the Con­sumers Affairs Department, or sent to the Facebook page of the department and the region and state departments concerned.

The domestic palm oil con­sumption is estimated at one million tonnes per year. The lo­cal palm oil production is just about 400,000 tonnes. About 700,000 tonnes of palm oil are imported through Malaysia and Indonesia to meet domestic de­mands. — NN/KK