The cost of ­petrol rose more than 20% in the country after the govern­ment announced an overnight hike amid fears of oil and gas shortages caused by the Middle East conflict. South-East Asian countries have borne the brunt of surging diesel prices following strikes against energy infrastructure in Iran and the Gulf states. In Myanmar, prices at the ­petrol pump increased about 30% from Thursday into yesterday. AFP journalists saw long queues of vehicles at a petrol station near Mandalay as motorists rushed to fill their tanks. Thailand also saw prices of fuel shoot up this week, as the government announced higher diesel rates on Wednesday.

Source: The Star March 21, 2026 12:33 UTC