Myanmar lifts odd-even driving restrictions; refuelling limits remain

Facts

Lifting: the Myanmar government lifted the vehicle driving restriction based on odd or even final number-plate digits with effect from 9 September 2026. The restriction was announced on 3 March, in response to the impact of military conflict in the Middle East on fuel supply, and took effect on 7 March. A presidential office spokesperson said it had saved fuel but hampered public mobility, citing stabilised domestic energy conditions as the reason for lifting it. Source: JETRO (2026-09-11, citing the spokesperson's 9 September announcement).

Restrictions retained: odd-even refuelling days (from 7 March); purchase controls via QR codes for two-wheelers and barcodes for four-wheelers (from 12 March); and weekly purchase caps by engine-size class of 35 litres per week ¹ for the smallest class, 40 litres per week for the middle class and 45 litres per week for the largest, up to twice a week, remain in place. Source: as above.

Analysis

Over time, the restriction lasted about six months (7 March to 9 September). Lifting it restores working days for individuals and micro-businesses using vehicles for taxi or delivery work. However, the weekly cap of 35 litres per week for smaller vehicles equals about 5 litres per day (T&S calculation), so income that scales with distance driven remains constrained.

By comparison, higher fuel prices linked to the Middle East also pushed Thailand's August CPI inflation to 2.53% (Ministry of Commerce). Myanmar faces volume constraints on top of prices, so the impact on vehicle-dependent borrowers is greater.

Implications

Counterpoints and uncertainties

The lifting was attributed to stabilised energy conditions, but the restriction could be reintroduced depending on the Middle East situation. No arrears data for the restriction period have been published, so the credit impact cannot be quantified.