ACCORDING to U Tun Tun Naing, Vice- Chair of the Myanmar Edible Oil Millers Association, domestic oil mills have resumed operations at up to 70 per cent capacity following changes to policies on edible oil imports.
Edible oil imports began in 1990, and by 2020, annual imports had risen sharply to between 900,000 tonnes and one million tonnes. This significant increase led to the closure of many domestic oil mills.
“In the past, the large volume of edible oil imports had a severe impact, forcing domestic mills to shut down. However, since 2021, policy changes regarding imports have allowed the market share of domestic oils to recover. Consequently, many oil mills have gradually resumed operations, and now they are running at up to 70 per cent capacity,” said U Tun Tun Naing.
The reduction in edible oil imports aligns with the improved availability of raw materials for domestic production. Additionally, the narrowing price gap between imported and locally produced edible oil has played a crucial role in restoring market share for domestic products.
Myanmar is home to over 4,000 small, medium, and large-scale oil mills, with approximately 70 per cent currently in operation. — ASH/TMT
