Summary
Opium poppy farming in Myanmar has reached its highest level in ten years, with a 17% increase in crop area over the past year. The United Nations reports that despite more land being used for poppy farming, opium production per area has not increased due to ongoing conflict and instability. Rising opium prices are encouraging more farmers to grow the crop, impacting both local and international drug markets.
Key Facts
- Opium poppy farming in Myanmar increased by 17% in one year, reaching 53,100 hectares in 2025.
- The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) states that Myanmar is now the main source of illicit opium globally.
- The price of opium in Myanmar has risen from $145 per kg in 2019 to $329 per kg in 2025.
- Despite more land being used for poppy, the amount of opium produced per hectare has not kept pace.
- Conflict and instability in Myanmar make it hard for farmers to maintain and yield high opium crops.
- There are signs that heroin from Myanmar is reaching international markets as Afghan supply reduces.
- Rising opium production in Myanmar could have significant effects on global drug markets.
