The wholesale reference rate of palm oil for the Yangon market was set for a second weekly fall to K5,140 per viss from 13 to 18 February, indicating a slight decrease of K135 per viss compared to that (K5,275) of last week ending 12 February, according to the Supervisory Committee on edible oil import and distribution.
The reference price was set at K5,380 during the week ending 4 February.
The Supervisory Committee on Edible Oil Import and Distribution under the Ministry of Commerce has closely observed the FOB prices in Malaysia and Indonesia, adding transport costs, tariffs and banking services to decide the weekly wholesale market reference rate for edible oil.
Nevertheless, the market price is way higher than the reference price.
To control overcharging, the Consumer Affairs Department under the Ministry of Commerce informed the consumers of lodging the complaints for overcharging through the call centre’s hotline in late August. The department urged consumers not to buy palm oil at high prices.
The department is making concerted efforts to steer the high volatility in palm oil prices in the retail market and offer fairer prices to consumers in coordination with the Myanmar Edible Oil Dealers Association and oil importing companies.
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 yearly through Malaysia and Indonesia to meet domestic demands. — NN/EM
