Northeast Thailand Truckers Seek Diesel Price Reductions

[snoop1130]

 

Truck drivers in Northeast Thailand are calling on the government to either reduce diesel fuel prices or increase freight charges to handle the rising energy costs. This move, they argue, will ensure their trucks stay in service. The president of the Northern Transport Association (NTA), Wichai Sawangkhachon, claims that about half of over 10,000 trucks belonging to roughly 700 freight businesses under the NTA are not currently operational. Around 3,000 of these dormant trucks, he says, have been reclaimed by vehicle financing companies due to unpaid loans.

 

The situation has been primarily caused by soaring diesel prices and reduced demand for trucking services. Northeastern Service Union Transport's president, Somphon Hirunyasut, points out that many operators are struggling to keep their businesses alive due to growing losses, which in turn has led to company shutdowns. This trend, initially sparked by the economic impacts of the Covid-19 crisis, has been further aggravated by increasing overheads.

 

Diesel prices in nearby Laos are approximately 3.7 baht per litre cheaper than in Thailand. In contrast, the cost of truck heads in Vietnam is roughly half of those in Thailand. Adding to the problem, a free trade agreement between Thailand and China affords a tax waiver to Chinese truck operators, which could potentially worsen the existing predicament, as reported by Bangkok Post. “Many Chinese truck operators already have a strong presence in Thailand’s neighboring countries, and this agreement will make it easier for them to draw customers here,” the report added.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-08-08

 

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[Sigmund]

"Thanks" to the absurd and angering sanctions of America against Russia, the entire world in suffering with the inflated fuel prices.

 

Thailand was nevertheless clever enough not to fall into the US hegemony.

[ikke1959]

Maybe buy more efficient trucks and cars instead of all these many years old vehicles that are driving around.... Better for the wallet and the enviroment