Thailand could face a diesel shortage within two months, according to global energy expert Panurach Dumrongthai, who warned that confirmed crude oil deliveries for April and May fall 27 million barrels short of national demand. The potential gap has raised concerns about fuel availability and prompted calls for urgent government action to manage consumption. Panurach urged authorities to consider restricting diesel use to essential purposes to prevent a crisis.
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The warning follows a March 28, 2026, “Meet the Press” event at Government House, where Panurach attended as a representative of the energy sector. He highlighted that Thailand requires around 30 million barrels of crude oil per month to meet demand, yet only 24 million barrels have been confirmed for April and just 9 million for May. This shortfall, he said, could force the country to rely heavily on national crude reserves if additional shipments are not secured.
During the forum, Panurach raised three key issues with Energy Minister Auttapol Rerkpiboon: securing replacement crude supplies, managing differences in crude quality such as API (American Petroleum Institute) gravity, and establishing a Special Task Force of experts in petroleum engineering, refining, distribution, and maritime logistics. He expressed concern that Thailand is effectively waiting day by day for crude shipments to arrive, describing the situation as increasingly precarious.
The Energy Minister responded that the figures cited for May only reflect tankers with confirmed berthing dates and additional shipments are expected to be confirmed. He said part of the Middle Eastern supply could still be transported via Fujairah and redirected through Saudi pipelines to the Red Sea, while lost volumes could be replaced by imports from the United States, South Africa and Malaysia. He also noted that refineries could adjust processes through blending and shift production from jet fuel, where demand has fallen, to increase diesel output by 8–10%.
Panurach warned that global uncertainties could worsen the situation, pointing to a recent attack on the Fujairah port and the risk of Red Sea shipping disruptions. He added that government measures such as boosting B20 production and encouraging households to save one litre of fuel per day signal a growing imbalance between supply and demand. From an engineering perspective, he argued that the crisis may already justify stricter controls on diesel usage.
The Nation reported that the government is expected to continue securing additional crude shipments and adjusting refinery operations to stabilise supply. However, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether Thailand can avoid a diesel shortage or will need to implement consumption restrictions.
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Adapted by ASEAN Nation 30 Mar 2026