Poipet Shortages Drive Demand
A severe fuel shortage in Cambodia’s Poipet has sparked a wave of cross-border travel into Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province, with hundreds of Cambodians crossing the Thai-Cambodian Friendship Bridge on June 21, 2025, to buy cheaper fuel. The influx, causing congestion at Aranyaprathet’s immigration checkpoint, reflects growing desperation as Poipet grapples with soaring fuel prices and frequent power outages.
Escalating Fuel Prices in Cambodia
Thai Fuel Offers Cost Relief
Fuel prices in Poipet have skyrocketed to 48–50 baht per liter for petrol and 38–40 baht for diesel, compared to Thailand’s more affordable 41.54 baht and 31.94 baht, respectively. This price gap has driven Cambodian motorists, particularly from wealthier households, to stockpile fuel in 200-liter drums, with some draining car tanks daily to refill in Thailand for generator use amid unreliable electricity.
Power Outages Fuel Generator Use
Residents Adapt to Energy Crisis
Poipet’s 100,000-plus residents face persistent power cuts, forcing reliance on petrol-powered generators. The city’s energy woes, exacerbated by a June 17, 2025, disconnection of Thai electricity by Cambodian authorities, have intensified the rush for fuel. Cambodia’s switch to Vietnam-sourced power has led to unstable supply, with voltage drops causing flickering lights and intermittent blackouts in some areas.
Border Market Activity Booms
Cambodian Traders Flock to Thailand
Over 1,000 Cambodian vendors crossed into Thailand on June 21, 2025, to operate stalls at Aranyaprathet’s Rong Kluea Market, a key economic hub. In contrast, outbound traffic from Thailand to Poipet remains minimal, with Thai authorities banning citizens from working or gambling in Poipet’s casinos since a border dispute escalated in May 2025. These casinos, reliant on Thai patrons for 80% of their business, face economic strain.
Thai Authorities Manage Congestion
Security Measures Tightened
Aranyaprathet officials have deployed additional traffic police to handle the influx of Cambodian vehicles and maintain order at the Ban Khlong Luek checkpoint. The border restrictions, part of Thailand’s response to a territorial dispute over areas like Ta Muen Thom, have limited Thai crossings, with only a few Lao workers entering to renew passports. The measures aim to balance security and economic activity amid heightened tensions.
Hun Sen Defies Thai Pressure
Cambodia Rejects Oil Dependence
Former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, now Senate President, dismissed Thai opposition calls to halt oil exports, asserting on June 21, 2025, that Cambodia’s economy would not collapse without Thai fuel. He highlighted potential losses for Thailand’s PTT, which operates 186 petrol stations and 250 Cafe Amazon outlets in Cambodia. Despite Cambodia’s claim of energy independence, Poipet’s reliance on Thai fuel underscores ongoing vulnerabilities.
Economic and Diplomatic Stakes
Border Dispute Threatens Trade
The fuel crisis coincides with a year-long Thai-Cambodian border dispute, worsened by a fatal May 28, 2025, clash. Cambodia’s push for International Court of Justice intervention contrasts with Thailand’s insistence on bilateral talks, straining relations. Economists warn that prolonged tensions could cost Thailand $5 billion and Cambodia $1 billion in trade, with Poipet’s casino-driven economy and cross-border markets at risk of further disruption.
