Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul stated that the Government had relaxed transport restrictions in order to allow 24-hour fuel distribution to various petrol stations throughout the country.

The Prime Minister on 19 March 2026 chaired a meeting of the Joint Management and Monitoring Center for the Situation in the Middle East at the Parliament Building. He stressed that Thailand still had sufficient oil to meet the domestic demand and urged people not to store fuel, as panic buying might lead to shortages at service stations.

The Prime Minister said that refineries in the country were able to produce 175 million liters of oil a day and that crude oil procurement from overseas continued as normal. Thailand has also reduced oil exports to the Lao PDR by 25 percent and to Myanmar by 20 percent. In the overall picture, Thailand’s energy situation remained manageable.

Also, on 19 March, the Joint Management and Monitoring Center for the Situation in the Middle East held a press briefing, delivered by Mr. Panidone Pachimsawat, Acting Director-General of the Department of Information and Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Wutthitat Tantivess, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Energy Business; and Mr. Nantapong Jiralertpong, Director of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce.

Mr. Panidone said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was informed by the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv that Israeli authorities confirmed the death of one Thai national on 18 March 2026. The Embassy has already contacted the family of the deceased.  Two Thai nationals who traveled from Iran across the border to Van, Türkiye, returned to Thailand safely on the morning of 19 March. Thai embassies in Tehran and Ankara are coordinating the evacuation of four Thai workers from Bandar Abbas, who are scheduled to cross into Türkiye on 23 March before returning to Thailand. A total of 1,173 Thai nationals have been assisted in departing from countries in the Middle East to Thailand or to third countries.

The Deputy Director-General of the Department of Energy Business, stated that apart from relaxing transport restrictions, allowing 24-hour fuel transportation, the Ministry of Energy has also implemented measures to increase fuel delivery trips and expedite distribution to service stations.

A field survey of 2,649 fuel stations nationwide conducted on 15-17 March 2026 found that 241 stations (9.1%) were temporarily closed; 1,912 stations (72.2%) remained open but had certain fuel types depleted or nearly depleted; and 496 stations (18.7%) were operating normally. The primary cause is logistical constraints, with transportation unable to keep pace with the significantly increased demand for fuel in recent days.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce stated that despite volatility in global energy prices, the Government has been able to control consumer goods prices. At present, no traders have submitted requests to increase prices of controlled goods. In fresh markets across Bangkok, costs for pork, seafood, plastic bags, and packaging have increased; however, traders, in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce, have maintained prices at existing levels.