Bangkok: Diesel consumption in Thailand has decreased in the first five months of 2025, mirroring the broader economic conditions in the country. The Department of Energy Business reported an overview of fuel consumption for the period from January to May 2025, indicating a slowdown in gasoline usage due to increased adoption of electric vehicles and rail travel.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Sarawut Kaewtatip, Director-General of the Department of Energy Business, disclosed that the overall fuel consumption during this period was 158.44 million liters per day, marking a 0.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Notably, commercial aviation fuel consumption rose by 12.3 percent, while fuel oil consumption increased by 6.7 percent. Conversely, diesel fuel consumption at service stations saw a 1.5 percent decline, and natural gas for vehicles (NGV) usage dropped by 16.1 percent.
Diesel fuel usage at service stations averaged 68.53 million liters per day, a decrease of 1.3 percent. This decline is attributed to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding reciprocal tariffs, which have led to a slowdown in private consumption and investment, despite a 0.6 percent expansion in the industrial production sector in the first quarter. B20 diesel consumption fell to 0.03 million liters per day, while basic diesel consumption increased to 2.20 million liters per day, resulting in an overall diesel consumption of 70.73 million liters per day.
The average Shipment Index for January-April contracted by 1.0 percent, influenced by higher than usual rainfall and ongoing concerns over geopolitical conflicts. Despite expanding exports, particularly to the United States, retaliatory tariffs have put pressure on Thailand's competitiveness and the economies of its major trading partners.
Gasoline consumption averaged 31.85 million liters per day, a 0.8 percent increase, driven by a shift towards Gasohol 95, which rose to 19.22 million liters per day. The preference for Gasohol 95 resulted from its 0.37 baht per liter price advantage over Gasohol 91. However, the use of other Gasohol variants showed signs of decline, influenced by the growth in electric vehicle adoption, which captured a 6.3 percent share of private passenger cars, and the expansion of electric train mass transit systems.
Commercial aviation fuel consumption averaged 18.06 million liters per day, a 12.3 percent increase, supported by a 2.05 percent rise in both Thai and foreign visitors, as well as air cargo services. Nevertheless, foreign tourist arrivals in Thailand dropped by 2.7 percent in the first five months, with a significant decrease of 22.86 percent in Northeast Asian visitors, particularly from China, influenced by global trade policy impacts on consumer confidence and domestic economies.
LPG consumption averaged 17.60 million kg per day, reflecting a 2.3 percent decline, largely due to reduced demand in the petrochemical and transport sectors. Household and industrial consumption, however, showed increases. NGV usage fell by 16.1 percent, consistent with a decrease in registered NGV vehicles and the closure of NGV service stations, despite support measures such as the privilege card project for taxis and public buses.
Fuel oil imports averaged 1,060,825 barrels per day, a 1.4 percent increase, with crude oil imports rising by 4.6 percent. In contrast, refined oil imports saw a significant decline of 51.3 percent. Meanwhile, the export of refined oil averaged 147,535 barrels per day, a decrease of 4.9 percent, encompassing gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, aviation fuel, and LPG, with a total export value of 12,416 million baht per month.