Opium production in conflict-torn Myanmar has risen alarmingly, reaching its highest level in ten years, according to a new report released on Wednesday by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The report, cited by Reuters, shows that poppy cultivation—the raw material for opium—has expanded sharply amid deepening political and economic turmoil.
Poppy Cultivation Up 17% in One Year
UNODC data reveals that poppy cultivation has grown by 17 percent over the past year. In 2024, poppy fields covered 45,200 hectares; in 2025, the area increased to 53,100 hectares.
With opium production in Afghanistan continuing to decline, Myanmar has re-emerged as the world’s top illegal opium producer.
‘Myanmar at a Critical Crossroads’: UNODC
Delphine Schantz, UNODC’s representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said Myanmar stands at a “critical crossroads.” The resurgence of poppy fields underscores how entrenched the opium economy has become in recent years, with further expansion likely if instability persists.
The junta government did not respond to requests for comment.
Civil War and Soaring Opium Prices Fuel Expansion
The 2021 military coup triggered widespread armed resistance and plunged the country into prolonged civil conflict. Amid the insecurity, the junta is preparing for a widely criticized general election scheduled to begin on 28 December.
According to UNODC, poppy cultivation has been rising steadily since 2020, driven in part by opium prices that have doubled during the same period, incentivizing farmers to shift to illegal crops.
Sharp Increases in Shan and Chin States
Eastern Shan State recorded the steepest rise in poppy cultivation at 32 percent, followed by Chin State at 26 percent. Southern Shan remains the main production hub, contributing 44 percent of national output. All three regions continue to witness intense fighting between the military and ethnic armed groups.
For the first time, UNODC also identified 552 hectares of poppy fields in northern Sagaing Region, near the Indian border, signaling a wider geographical spread of cultivation.
Rising Threat Along Myanmar’s Western Border
UNODC warns that the expansion of poppy cultivation in Chin State poses new risks for Myanmar’s western frontier and neighboring countries, potentially increasing cross-border trafficking and instability.
