Fuel rush grips Mae Sai amid export fears linked to Middle East conflict

2026-03-03 - 08:03

CHIANG RAI — Residents of Mae Sai district and Myanmar’s Tachileik province continued to queue for fuel on 3 March after fears spread that Thailand could suspend fuel exports amid fighting in the Middle East. After the Thai–Myanmar Friendship Bridge opened at 06:30, Myanmar-registered cars and motorcycles crossed into Mae Sai to refuel at local petrol stations. Many drivers were seen filling vehicles and containers for stockpiling over concerns that Myanmar could face shortages if exports were halted. More than half of vehicles waiting at some stations bore Myanmar licence plates, prompting some Thai residents to join queues out of concern supplies could run low. Two petrol stations on the outskirts of Mae Sai have temporarily closed since yesterday after running out of fuel and are awaiting new deliveries in two days. Larger stations in the town centre said they still had sufficient supply. In the Golden Triangle area of Chiang Saen district, exporters initially paused shipments following reports that the Energy Ministry had ordered a suspension. On 3 March, oil tankers stranded at a private pier began departing after clarification from the ministry. An acting senior official at the Energy Ministry said no order had been issued to ban fuel exports. The Department of Energy Business is monitoring the Middle East situation closely and assessing potential impacts, the statement said, adding that any formal decision would be announced if necessary.