- Socio-economic Impacts of Tightened Thai-Myanmar Transportation Restrictions
Myanmar’s domestic production capacity remains insufficient to meet its needs, making it heavily reliant on imports of Thai goods via the border. These goods are then distributed by trucks to shops throughout the cities, with a large number of people across the country depending on these economic activities. The transportation routes in Kayin and Mon States are directly linked to the socio-economic well-being of lower Myanmar, and any disruption to these goods would significantly impact Mon State and its associated regions. In February 2026, the military junta forces further blocked the aforementioned trade routes and implemented stricter inspections,[1] causing multifaceted difficulties for people in various sectors. In particular, traders, drivers, retailers, and basic consumers are the main victims.
(1.2) The Motives Behind Road Blockades
- It is assessed that the military council’s strict restrictions and blockades in February have the following strategic objectives:
- To intensify strict blockades on trade routes to prevent weapons, ammunition, and supplies from infiltrating areas where armed revolution is strong.
- The military council does not want ethnic armed groups to control lucrative border trade areas and prefers to control them centrally.
- By restricting land trade that it cannot control, strategic shifts are observed, aiming to force traders to switch to maritime trade,[2] which is easier to control.
(1.2) Armed Organizations Controlling Trade Routes and Their Activities
| BGF / KNA | Controls multiple road checkpoints and Salween River ferry terminals, imposing excessive taxes.[3] |
| KPC / KNLA-PC | Collecting taxes from cargo vehicles along road sections in coordination with the Military Council.[4] |
| DKBA (Bo Bi Group) | Primarily controls jetties and ferry terminals along the Salween River, conducting business operations.[5] |
| Police and Traffic Police | Engage in extortion and confiscation of goods at the entrances of Myawaddy and Hpa-An, redistributing seized goods to departments at half price.[6] |
Currently, at checkpoints along the Yangon-Mawlamyine-Thaton and Hpa-an-Myawaddy trade routes, various armed organizations, including the military council troops, Border Guard Force (BGF/KNA), Karen Peace Council (KPC), DKBA, and police personnel, are increasingly collecting taxes without systematic regulations. In particular, merchants are facing difficulties and are forced to comply due to the risk of confiscation of goods and vehicles at the Hpa-an, San Pyae Gu, and Ah Bit checkpoints. These unsystematic collections are increasing costs in the trading process and significantly hindering the operation of the local economy.
(1.3) Trade Restrictions and Socio-economic Impacts
| No. | Sector-specific Challenges | Current Ground Situation | Impacts and Grievances |
| 1 | Seizure of Goods and Monetary Extortion | The Military Council and multi-group checkpoints are primarily targeting and seizing Thai goods. Using unlicensed vehicles as a pretext, they demand payments ranging from 500,000 to 1,000,000 Kyats per vehicle.[7] | Being fined 50,000 Kyats just for carrying basic food items (e.g., Mama instant noodles). Market prices domestically have surged 3 to 4 times higher.6 |
| 2 | Restrictions on Transporting Basic Provisions | For military reasons, restrictions have been placed not only on Thai goods but also on domestic basic provisions such as rice and cooking oil. | Due to this situation, a woman from Kawkareik was unable to sell her rice sacks in Hpa-An; unable to get a fair price, she is facing significant economic hardship.7 |
| 3 | Land Route Blockades and Forced Shift to Maritime Trade | Blocking land trade routes and forcing a shift toward maritime routes, which require the use of shipping containers.[8] | Small-scale traders with limited capital are losing their livelihoods. Transportation costs and time delays are leading to disruptions in the flow of goods. |
| 4 | Multi-taxation by Armed Groups | Groups such as the BGF, KNA, PC, and DKBA control road sections and ports along the Salween River, collecting exorbitant taxes. | Since traders must pay at least 50,000 Kyats per checkpoint, businesses are no longer profitable, leading to a shutdown of operations. |
(1.4) How do people cope when facing a crisis?
| No. | Response Category | Coping Mechanisms |
| 1 | Operational Response | Suspending operations (temporarily halting business to observe the situation) and reducing import volumes. |
| 2 | Transport Rerouting | Seeking and utilizing alternative transportation routes. |
| 3 | Financial Compromise | Paying bribes (illegal payments made to avoid the seizure of vehicles and goods). |
| 4 | Seeking Protection | Reaching “understandings” with authorities (paying police and traffic officers to provide escort services to ensure the flow of goods). |
| 5 | Consumer Response | Reducing consumption (cutting down on basic necessities and food items to a minimum due to surging prices). |
| 6 | New Distribution Mechanisms | Relying on the black market and utilizing seized goods (purchasing goods confiscated by the Military Council at half-price through village administrators). |
In summary, these adaptive survival strategies indicate a breakdown of the official trading system. For the public, these are not choices but forced necessities to maintain their daily livelihoods. As business owners have pointed out, given the current inability to produce sufficient domestic substitute goods, the blockade of border trade is a deliberate act of creating crisis for civilians. This policy not only hinders long-term regional economic development but also exacerbates challenges to socio-economic security.
Five years into the coup, ‘socio-economic security’ remains elusive for the average citizen. Policies that weaponize basic food supplies and trade keep the public trapped in a survival crisis. Due to the lack of effective mechanisms to resolve these crises, people across all sectors remain unable to escape the cycle of poverty and uncertainty, facing a reality of further socio-economic decline.
- Challenges in the Dried Betel Nut Trade in Tanintharyi and Mon State[9]
The following table examines the economic hardships faced by local communities in the Tanintharyi Region and Mon State, particularly betel nut farmers and traders, in the trade and transportation of dried betel nuts.
| Category | Prevailing Situation | Impacts |
| 1. Arrests and Detentions | Seizure of betel nut trucks and detention of individuals at the Kyay Nan Tai bridge checkpoint.[2] | Widespread panic among locals due to detainees being missing and denied family visitation.[3] |
| 2. Market Conditions | Buyers are subjected to interrogation and threats of arrest. | Buyers are afraid to purchase; some dried betel nut wholesale centers have temporarily suspended operations. |
| 3. Price Fluctuations | Dwindling number of buyers and increased difficulties in the flow of goods. | Prices in Myeik dropped from 13,000 Kyats to 10,000 Kyats per viss. (In Ye, Mon State, the price is only 10,500 Kyats).[4] |
| 4. Transportation | Checkpoint fees have been hiked by hundreds of thousands of Kyats; goods are subjected to rigorous inspection. | Journeys that previously took 2 days now take up to 5 days, leading to the spoilage and loss of goods. |
| 5. Security and Armed Conflict | Frequent clashes between the Military Council and revolutionary forces. | Drivers are afraid to travel, leading some wholesale centers to temporarily close. |
On the Ye-Thanbyuzayat road section, travelers report that checkpoint fees have been increased by hundreds of thousands of Kyats. Goods are subjected to aggressive “bag-emptying” inspections, often resulting in intentional damage to the products.
Due to these conditions, locals are not only living in fear for their security but are also grappling with economic instability. The combination of falling commodity prices and transportation barriers continues to pose a severe challenge to daily livelihoods and regular business operations.
- Travel Restriction Conditions[10]
(3.1) Obtaining Advance Letters of Recommendation
- Travelers are required to obtain letters of recommendation from the relevant police station and ward administration office one week in advance in order to purchase bus tickets.
- This stringency particularly affects those holding registration cards from areas with intense military conflict, namely Rakhine (11/), Shan (13/), Mandalay-Mogok (9/), Magway (8/), and Sagaing (5/).
- Express bus lines will not sell tickets without a letter of recommendation. They also issue advance warnings that they will not be responsible for those with forged documents or incomplete letters of recommendation at inspection gates, and such individuals will be left at the gate.
(3.2) Discrimination in Inspections
- Travelers with the aforementioned registration cards are subjected to more thorough inspections than others at checkpoints along the way, and they are compelled to comply with requests for money depending on the situation.
(3.3) Financial Compliance with Gate Authorities
- Drivers and traders, in order to maintain business operations, observe the demands and comply by paying money to gate authorities, depending on changes in personnel.
Overall, the current travel mechanism involves the public inevitably tolerating and complying with existing difficulties between security-related stringency and unsystematic extortion in order to ensure their safety and maintain business operations.
- Education situation in February
According to a meeting held in Naypyidaw, plans are underway to revise the Grade-12 curriculum starting in June 2026 and to prioritize vocational subjects such as industry, agriculture, and livestock breeding from the middle school level.[11] However, the reality on the ground reveals significant discrepancies with the goals of the new KG+12 system. Although schools in various regions, including Mon State, are reportedly adopting a system that encourages practical teaching, the persistence of the old rote-learning system for exam success is evident due to a scarcity of experienced teachers, a lack of adequate teaching aids, and insufficient teaching time. These weaknesses in teaching have led high school students to excessively rely on boarding houses, tutoring, and private lessons to pass their grade promotion exams, creating a significant financial burden for parents.
Since the military coup, there has been no discernible progress in Myanmar’s education sector. While educational processes may appear to be functioning normally in urban areas, children in rural and border regions continue to lose the opportunities for free education and access to learning they had before 2021, due to displacement and insecurity.
- Health Situation
(4.1) Concerns Regarding Air Pollution in Myanmar[12]
According to February measurements, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Yangon has reached over 200 (Purple Level). This is classified as a “Very Unhealthy Level” and poses a hazardous situation for everyone. What appears to be overcast skies is actually haze caused by PM_{2.5} particulate matter.
(4.2) Diseases Caused by Air Pollution [13]
Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) in the atmosphere can travel directly into the lungs and the bloodstream, potentially causing the aforementioned diseases.
| Category | Description |
| Acute Symptoms | Sore throat, difficulty breathing, runny nose, coughing, eye irritation, and skin itching. |
| Long-term Effects | Pneumonia, bronchitis, chronic cough, heart disease, asthma, and lung cancer. |
| Vulnerable Groups | Children with weak immune systems, the elderly, and pregnant women; air pollution can severely impact their health and physical development. |
(4.3) Special precautions for travelers from various regions:
- Always wear a mask: When traveling, be sure to wear an N95 mask, which can filter out particles better than ordinary masks, in a systematic manner.
- Check your itinerary: If you are traveling to urban areas with very high air pollution, check the air quality in advance via apps such as IQAir.
- Reduce outdoor activities: Avoid exercising and spending long periods of time near heavily polluted roads while traveling.
- Take precautions: If traveling by car, keep the windows securely closed and use the air conditioner in Recirculation Mode.
[1] KIC News (February 19, 2026), ဖားအံတွင် တရားမဝင်ထိုင်းကုန်ပစ္စည်းဖမ်းပြပြီး ဝန်ထမ်းများ ကိုယ်တိုင် သယ်ဆောင်ပေးနေ, link
[2] KIC News (February 19, 2026), Illegal Thai goods seized in Hpa-an, with staff members personally transporting them.link
[3] Than Lwin Times, February 16, 2026, Intensified Seizure of Thai Goods in Kayin State, link
[4] KIC News (February 19, 2026), Illegal Thai goods seized in Hpa-an, with staff personally transporting them, link
[5] Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA), 18 February 2026, Thai goods seized in Hpa-An resold by administrative bodies.Link
[6] Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA), 18 February 2026, Thai goods seized in Hpa-An resold by administrative bodies.Link
[7] Than Lwin Times, February 16, 2026, Thai goods seizures increase in Karen State.link
[8] KIC News, February 14, 2026, Thai-Myanmar Exports and Imports Face Increased Seizures, Leading to Goods Shortageslink
[9] Dawei Watch, February 18, 2026: The military junta arrested two vehicles carrying dried betel nuts, resulting in fewer betel nut buyers. link
[10] Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA), February 5, 2026, Highway bus lines say tickets will no longer be sold without a letter of recommendation. Link
[11] Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), February 4, 2026, to rewrite the Grade-12 curriculum, Link
[12] BBC News Burmese, 24 February 2026, Yangon Air Pollution, link
[13] DVB News, February 24, 2026. Yangon air pollution may affect health, so travel carefully, Link
