Diesel spike strands fishing fleet
Reports say tens of thousands of Thai fishing vessels are stranded after diesel prices more than doubled since the Iran war began, a disruption that highlights acute fuel pressure in coastal and rural industries. The coverage framed this as an operational shock with obvious ripple effects for inland haulage and logistics. (home.nzcity.co.nz)
Tens of thousands of Thai fishing boats are sitting idle because diesel now costs too much for many crews to leave port. (abc.net.au) Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on April 11 that diesel prices in Thailand had more than doubled since the Iran war began, stranding small and commercial vessels across the country. Reuters reported on March 26 that more than half the trawlers at Samut Sakhon, Thailand’s biggest fishing port, were already docked. (abc.net.au) (usnews.com) The National Fisheries Association of Thailand said more than 40 percent of the commercial fleet had tied up because trips no longer covered fuel and other operating costs. Nation Thailand reported that 8,100 boats had applied for fishing licenses and about 6,000 had applied for subsidized “green diesel” codes. (seafoodsource.com) (nationthailand.com) Thailand is exposed because it gets about half of its crude oil from the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Energy Ministry statements reported in March. That waterway is a narrow shipping lane for Gulf oil, and Thai officials moved in early March to line up alternative supplies and protect reserves. (nationthailand.com) (thestar.com.my) The squeeze is hitting more than boat owners. Reuters quoted Samut Sakhon fishmonger association president Jumpol Kanawaree saying markets could run short of fish after April 1 because boats could no longer cover crew costs, while Australian Broadcasting Corporation said truckers and other diesel users were also under pressure inland. (nst.com.my) (abc.net.au) Fishing is a major export business for Thailand. Government public relations data said fishery exports were worth $7.08 billion in 2024, the highest level in 10 years, with the United States, Japan and China among the biggest markets. (thailand.prd.go.th) Boat operators have tried to keep working by slowing down to burn less fuel, but Reuters reported that slower trips also mean smaller catches. Fisherman Sooksan Kanual told Australian Broadcasting Corporation he might have to leave the sea and look for work on land. (al-monitor.com) (abc.net.au) Thai officials have said the country still has roughly three months of oil reserves, but coastal businesses need affordable daily fuel, not just emergency stock on paper. Until diesel prices ease or subsidies expand, more of the fleet is likely to stay tied to the pier. (nationthailand.com) (scmp.com)
