Thailand to continue oil exports to Laos, PM says

2026-03-16 - 05:23

BANGKOK — Thailand will continue exporting oil to Laos despite concerns over regional fuel supply during the ongoing Middle East conflict, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said. Speaking at parliament on 15 March, Anutin confirmed that Thailand is still selling fuel to Laos and dismissed speculation that exports might be halted as neighbouring countries face growing concerns over energy security. “I have already clarified this. We are still selling,” he said when asked whether Thailand would stop oil shipments to Laos during the current crisis. Anutin stressed that Thailand has sufficient fuel reserves, with stockpiles currently estimated at around 90 days and expected to reach close to 100 days due to conservation efforts and reduced exports to third countries. He said oil importers and refiners — including Thai Oil, Bangchak, Shell and Star Petroleum Refining — had assured the government that there are no signs of an impending shortage. According to the prime minister, Thailand currently has the largest oil reserves among ASEAN countries. “We have to consider the size of our economy and logistics. Some countries like Japan may have reserves for more than 200 days, but in ASEAN Thailand has the highest reserves,” he said. Anutin urged the public to conserve energy to help increase the country’s fuel reserves, even though there is no immediate risk of shortages. He also assured that Thailand’s electricity supply remains secure, noting that most of the country’s power generation relies on natural gas produced in the Gulf of Thailand. Oil prices, he said, continue to fluctuate in line with global markets, but the government will use the oil fund to help stabilise prices and ease the burden on consumers. Thailand imports about half of its crude oil from global producers affected by the conflict but continues to source the remainder from other regions, ensuring that supply chains remain intact. The prime minister also said Thailand is open to discussing oil purchases with various suppliers, including Russia, adding that the state-owned energy giant PTT Public Company Limited maintains broad international trading networks.