Calls grow to control oil refinery pricingAn aerial view of an oil refinery complex operated by Thai Oil in Chon Buri's Sri Racha district. Democrat list-MP Korn Chatikavanij has called on the government to step in and regulate the gross refinery margin (GRM) set by oil refinery operators, arguing that intervention is necessary to ease financial pressure on households and businesses as global crude oil prices soar. GRM represents the difference between crude oil prices and refined oil prices, reflecting costs added during the refining process. Media reports note that when crude prices rise sharply, the gap between crude and refined oil prices widens, boosting refinery profits. Mr Korn argued that relying solely on MOPS is insufficient, pointing out that during the war, Dubai crude oil prices doubled, while refined oil prices in Singapore's MOPS market jumped fivefold -- an abnormal disparity.

Source: Bangkok Post March 30, 2026 23:06 UTC