Panic buying has erupted in several Myanmar border towns as residents scramble to secure fuel, driven by fears that escalating conflict in the Middle East will lead to a nationwide shortage.
In the border trading hub of Myawaddy, most petrol stations were shuttered on the evening of 2 March. By the following afternoon, a few reopened but imposed strict quotas, limiting motorcycles to 10,000 kyats worth of fuel and cars to between 30,000 and 40,000 kyats.
The situation is particularly acute in regions reliant on imports from Thailand. Since early 2025, Thai authorities have restricted fuel exports to border areas as part of a crackdown on online scam syndicates. This has forced residents to rely on fuel transported from central Myanmar or turn to the black market.
“Registered cars are crossing into Mae Sot [Thailand] to refuel,” one Myawaddy resident told the Myanmar Pressphoto Agency (MPA). “They then drain the fuel into containers to resell it here. A 5-liter container that used to cost 22,000 kyats has now jumped to 37,000 kyats.”
The anxiety has spread to other major towns. In Mawlamyine, the capital of Mon State, residents have begun stockpiling fuel in containers, although supplies currently remain available at normal prices. Similar scenes of panic buying have been reported in Hpa-an and Dawei. In contrast, some areas like Myeik report that while supplies are currently stable, the situation remains unpredictable.
The current instability is linked to broader geopolitical tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran. Reports suggest that Thailand recently suspended fuel exports to several countries, including Myanmar, due to the Middle East crisis.
Analysts warn that with domestic transport routes already hampered by conflict, any disruption in cross-border fuel supplies will have a devastating impact on border communities. Despite the growing public alarm, the military junta has yet to release any information regarding emergency preparations or strategic reserves to mitigate a potential nationwide shortage.
