Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, also a caretaker deputy prime minister, said people worried about price rises were rushing to buy fuel at local petrol stations where there were no stored emergency reserves of fuel. Owners of public transport vehicles were also buying and storing fuel from retail pumps where diesel prices were much lower than prices quoted by their usual providers. Demand was further fuelled by knowledge the government’s decision to freeze diesel prices would end early this coming week, according to officials. There was no shortage of fuel. People rushing to top up had caused some petrol stations to run dry.

Source: Bangkok Post March 15, 2026 13:38 UTC