Cambodia turns to Singapore, Malaysia for fuel as Vietnam, China restrict supplies

SINGAPORE — Cambodia is importing more fuel from suppliers in Singapore and Malaysia to make up for supply shortfalls from Vietnam and China, its energy minister told Reuters on Wednesday, as the US-Israeli war on Iran squeezes fuel availability globally.

About a third of the 6,300 gas stations in the country of nearly 18 million people have shut since last Wednesday, with authorities investigating whether businesses are hoarding stocks ahead of further price rises.

Vietnam and China have restricted fuel exports until at least end-March to arrest potential domestic shortages. Neighboring Thailand banned exports in July 2025 after the onset of armed conflict with Cambodia and has not resumed supplies since.

Thailand and Vietnam together accounted for over 60% of Cambodia’s annual petroleum product imports in 2024, while Singapore and Malaysia made up nearly a third and China accounted for around 7%, according to data from International Trade Centre, a Geneva-based UN-WTO trade agency.

Energy Minister Keo Rottanak said Cambodia was boosting imports from Singapore and Malaysia due to export restrictions elsewhere.

“We’re still able to import a little bit from China. But because we have strong partnerships with global suppliers Total and Chevron, they are able to mitigate some of the risk,” Mr. Rottanak said.

Mr. Rottanak did not provide specifics on when the supplies from Singapore and Malaysia would arrive, but said current fuel stockpiles were comparable to historical levels.

Gasoline and diesel exports from the two countries to Cambodia in the first 18 days of this month were 25% higher than the same period last year, but 40% lower than in the final 18 days of February, Kpler data showed.

Cambodia has no oil refinery, and has less than a month’s supply of diesel, jet fuel, liquefied petroleum gas and petrol under normal conditions, Mr. Rottanak said.

“We are not yet 100% insulated at this stage, but the inflow seems to be okay for the time being,” he said.

Cambodia has been partly shielded from the shock by a rapid buildout of renewable energy, Mr. Rottanak said, adding that fuel imports have largely remained stable from 2022 levels due to renewables-led electrification.

“Because of renewable energy, we are in a way less susceptible to 100% shock from the oil in the Middle East,” he said, adding that the conflict highlights the need to expedite interconnection grids of countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“Situations like this should remind all of us that an ASEAN power grid is the way to go. We would be much, much more resilient than we are today.” — Reuters