According to information from Reuters, the government is considering the possibility of reducing fuel excise taxes to curb the rapid rise in retail prices. Diesel has risen in price from 29.94 to 38.94 baht per liter, creating an additional burden on citizens and businesses.
The crisis has already affected taxi services. At Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, many taxi drivers have reduced their shifts or suspended operations: of more than 5,000 cars in service, only about half remain, as drivers are afraid to make long trips due to the risk of running out of fuel.
The situation with fuel prices is also negatively impacting agriculture and fishing. As reported by The Guardian, farmers are facing difficulties in irrigation and harvesting, while Reuters emphasizes that the country's fishing sector has nearly come to a standstill, as many vessels are not going out to sea due to high diesel prices.
In such conditions, the World Food Programme warns that if the conflict in the Middle East continues and oil prices remain high, the number of people suffering from acute food shortages could increase by nearly 45 million, reaching record levels by 2026.
