Politics
Democrat Party Criticizes Government Over Rising Fuel Prices
The Democrat Party has raised concerns regarding domestic fuel pricing, citing a discrepancy where retail prices have increased despite a drop in refinery costs.
On September 25, 2026, Trirarat Sirichantaropas, a member of the Democrat Party’s energy economic team, held a press conference to address what he described as an 'abnormal' trend in Thailand's fuel pricing structure. According to data presented by the party, refinery costs for B7 diesel dropped from 39.33 baht per liter on September 21 to 37.49 baht per liter on September 24. However, retail prices moved in the opposite direction, rising from 40.69 baht to 41.44 baht per liter during the same period.
Trirarat argued that this trend contradicts standard market mechanisms, as consumers are paying more despite a reduction in production costs. He further highlighted the financial strain on the national Oil Fund, which is currently facing a significant accumulated debt of nearly 100 billion baht, suggesting this may be impacting retail prices nationwide.
For residents and travelers, this situation highlights potential volatility in transportation and living costs. While the Democrat Party has called for government clarification regarding these pricing discrepancies, the administration has yet to provide a formal response to these specific allegations. Observers are waiting to see if the government will address the structural concerns raised or if further adjustments to the Oil Fund management will be announced to stabilize retail prices.
