Unilever Sells Myanmar Stake to Centig Holding
Unilever agreed to sell its shareholding in its Myanmar joint venture to an affiliate of its local partner, with completion expected in 2027.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Consumer Goods
Unilever has agreed to sell its shareholding in Unilever EAC Myanmar Company Limited to Centig Holding Company Limited, an affiliate of its local joint venture partner Europe and Asia Commercial Company Limited. The financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.
Why it matters
The deal marks Unilever's exit from a joint venture it entered in 2010 and formalized with a 2017 partnership, in a market shaped by the military's ouster of an elected civilian government in early 2021. Its completion remains subject to legal and regulatory approvals.
World Bank forecasts Myanmar real GDP growth at 2.0% for fiscal 2026/27, down from a pre-war projection of 3.0%. The purchase price and financial terms of Unilever's stake sale have not been disclosed.
The players
Unilever
A multinational consumer goods company that entered the Myanmar market in 2010 and is exiting its joint venture there through this sale.
Centig Holding Company Limited
The buyer of Unilever's Myanmar stake, which is affiliated with the local joint venture partner Europe and Asia Commercial Company Limited.
Min Aung Hlaing
The former junta chief who now serves as president of Myanmar following the military's seizure of power from an elected government in 2021.
The details
Unilever confirmed the sale in a spokesperson statement in response to Reuters questions, and the news was first reported by Myanmar outlet Khit Thit Media. The buyer, Centig Holding Company Limited, is affiliated with Unilever's joint venture partner, Europe and Asia Commercial Company Limited.
Timeline
2010: Unilever enters the Myanmar market.
2017: Unilever signs a joint venture deal with Europe and Asia Commercial Company Limited.
Early 2021: The military ousts an elected civilian government in Myanmar.
June: The World Bank cuts its Myanmar GDP growth forecast to 2.0%.
2027: Completion of the sale is expected.
Market Landscape
The divestment follows the military's 2021 ouster of Myanmar's elected government, which has since reshaped the operating environment for foreign consumer goods companies. Unilever's exit from a joint venture it entered in 2010 leaves its local partner's affiliate as the new owner of the stake.
For consumers in Myanmar, the sale could influence the availability and pricing of Unilever products if the new owner changes distribution or sourcing. The financial impact on shoppers outside the joint venture is not addressed in the source.
The takeaway
Multinational firms reassessing Myanmar exposure often do so through local partners, so monitoring who ultimately controls former joint ventures can reveal how such exits are structured. Watch the 2027 completion timeline for confirmation of the final ownership change.
What happens next
Completion of the sale is expected in 2027, subject to legal and regulatory approvals.
Further reading
Explore more on the Consumer Goods industry for context on how multinational brands are adjusting their international footprints.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Global Banking & Finance Review.
