Thai PM bans fuel exports amid Middle East tensions, except to Laos and Myanmar

2026-03-06 - 11:53

BANGKOK — Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered a temporary ban on the export of several types of fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to prevent potential shortages in Thailand, citing escalating tensions in the Middle East. The order, published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette on 6 March 2026, takes effect immediately under Prime Ministerial Order No. 2/2026. The measure suspends exports of refined fuels including gasoline, gasohol, high-speed diesel and Jet A1 aviation fuel, as well as LPG, until further notice. The government said the move follows intensifying conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which has led to airstrikes on strategic sites in the Middle East and tighter restrictions on shipping routes in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz — key corridors for global oil transport. Authorities warned the situation could disrupt Thailand’s fuel supply and remains unpredictable. Under the order, the export ban does not apply to fuel shipments to Laos and Myanmar. It also exempts fuel imported for re-export and stored in bonded warehouses or free zones, as well as fuel that does not meet Thai quality standards and therefore cannot be sold domestically. The directive was issued under powers granted by the Fuel Shortage Prevention Act of 1973, aimed at preventing or addressing fuel shortages in the country.