What's happened
Myanmar's opium cultivation has increased by 17% in 2025, reaching its highest level since 2015, driven by conflict, poverty, and rising prices. The UN reports Myanmar as the world's main illicit opium source, with signs of heroin reaching European markets amid regional instability.
What's behind the headline?
Myanmar's surge in opium cultivation underscores how conflict and economic hardship fuel illicit economies. The 17% increase in land under poppy cultivation, reaching 53,100 hectares, marks a significant re-establishment of the drug trade after years of decline. The country now dominates global opium and methamphetamine production, with regional implications. The rise in prices—more than doubling since 2019—has made cultivation more lucrative, despite security risks. The expansion into new areas like Sagaing signals a broader geographic spread, complicating regional efforts to curb drug trafficking. This growth will likely intensify regional instability, empower ethnic militias involved in the trade, and increase heroin flows to Europe, further destabilizing international markets. Without targeted intervention, Myanmar's illicit economy will deepen, prolonging conflict and poverty while challenging regional security and law enforcement efforts.
What the papers say
The Japan Times highlights Myanmar's role as a major illicit drug producer, noting the country's rise following Afghanistan's decline. Al Jazeera emphasizes the 10-year peak in opium cultivation, driven by conflict and rising prices, with a focus on regional impacts. AP News underscores Myanmar's position as the world's main source of illicit opium amid ongoing civil war and political turmoil. The Independent adds that Myanmar is also the largest methamphetamine producer globally, with production expanding into new regions, and warns of heroin reaching European markets. All sources agree on the significant increase in cultivation and the destabilizing regional effects, but differ slightly in emphasis—some focus on the economic drivers, others on regional security implications.
How we got here
Myanmar's ongoing civil war, which escalated after the military coup in 2021, has destabilized the country and driven farmers toward illicit crops like opium and methamphetamine. The decline of Afghan production following Taliban bans has shifted regional drug flows, with Myanmar filling the gap. Rising opium prices and conflict have incentivized farmers to expand cultivation, especially in border regions with minimal government control.
Go deeper
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