Long queues were seen at petrol stations along Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Bangkok on March 3, as motorists rushed to refuel amid concerns over potential fuel price increases linked to tensions in the Middle East.
Reporters surveying the busy thoroughfare, which is lined with petrol stations on both sides, noted a clear contrast in customer traffic.
A privately operated, yellow-branded station that had already announced price hikes for gasoline and diesel was unusually quiet, with only a handful of vehicles stopping to refuel.
By contrast, a nearby station operated by PTT experienced consistently heavy traffic from the afternoon through the evening.
At several points, queues stretched beyond the station entrance and onto the main road, prompting some motorists to abandon the wait and seek alternative stations.
During the observation period, station staff were kept continuously busy, with vehicles of all types cycling through the pumps with little respite.
Employees said the surge began the previous day and continued into today, intensifying after reports emerged that private fuel operators were gradually increasing prices. Some staff members joked that they wanted to go home early, saying they had barely had a break since the rush began.
Several motorists were also seen attempting to fill portable fuel containers in an effort to stockpile supplies.
Station staff, however, rejected such requests, citing concerns over fuel availability. From today onward, the station will only permit fuel to be dispensed directly into vehicle tanks.
Customers interviewed at the scene expressed similar anxieties. Many said reports of escalating conflict in the Middle East, coupled with sharp price increases at private stations, prompted them to refuel as a precautionary measure.
A logistics company manager said he immediately instructed all company vehicles to fill their tanks after following the news, voicing distrust over the evolving situation overseas.
Despite government assurances that Thailand has sufficient fuel reserves for at least 60 days, he said he remained unconvinced.
“As a diesel user, I feel particularly vulnerable. I’m not confident prices won’t rise again soon, and I have to protect my business, which depends on fuel every day,” he said.
He criticised private stations for raising diesel prices by between 1.80 and 4.20 baht per liter, calling the increase excessive and urging more gradual adjustments.
Another female motorist also questioned the government’s assurance of a 60-day fuel reserve.
“Sixty days may sound like a long time, but in reality it passes quickly. Authorities need to provide stronger reassurance for people who rely on fuel for their daily lives,” she said.
The surge in refuelling activity underscores growing public anxiety over the impact of global geopolitical tensions on energy prices, despite official assurances that domestic fuel supplies remain stable.
Elsewhere, residents of Myanmar have been crossing into Thailand in large numbers to refuel their vehicles in the Mae Sot district of Tak province and in the Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai.
