Cambodia has increased fuel imports from Singapore and Malaysia after Vietnam and China began restricting exports due to the Middle East conflict impacting global oil transportation.
On 18 Mar 2026 GMT+7, Cambodia's Minister of Energy told Reuters that Cambodia is importing more fuel from producers in Singapore and Malaysia to compensate for reduced shipments caused by export limits imposed by Vietnam and China, as the US-Israel-Iran war affects global oil transport and prices.
Keo Rottanak, Cambodia’s Minister of Energy, revealed that about one-third of the country’s 6,300 gas stations closed last week due to uncertainty over the Middle East war’s impact on fuel prices. However, most have since reopened, leaving only 5.77% still closed.
Previously, Vietnam and China announced fuel export restrictions until at least the end of March to prevent domestic shortages, while neighboring Thailand has banned oil exports to Cambodia since July 2025 after border clashes, with no resumption of fuel deliveries since then.
The International Trade Centre (ITC), a UN and WTO agency, reported that in 2024 Cambodia imported 60% of its petroleum products from Thailand and Vietnam, 30% from Singapore and Malaysia, and 7% from China.
Keo said Cambodia is accelerating imports from Singapore and Malaysia due to export limits elsewhere. “We can still import some from China, but with strong partnerships with global producers like Total and Chevron, they help mitigate some risks,” he added.
Data from Kpler, an energy market analyst, shows that exports of gasoline and diesel from Singapore and Malaysia to Cambodia in the first 18 days of March were 25% higher than the same period last year, though exports in the last 18 days of February were 40% lower than the prior year.
Keo noted that Cambodia has no domestic oil refineries and normally holds diesel, aviation fuel, LPG, and gasoline reserves sufficient for less than one month of use.
“Currently, we cannot fully prevent the impact, but the current fuel inflows seem sufficient for this period,” Keo said.
He also said the Cambodian government began preliminary talks this month with Australia’s Woodside Energy to secure liquefied natural gas (LNG) for Cambodia’s first gas-fired power plant, expected to start operating next year, adding that sourcing from Australia will help mitigate geopolitical risks.
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Source:cna