Asia faces fuel rationing as Hormuz crisis cripples daily life

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the US-Israeli offensive on Iran has sent shockwaves across Asia, the destination for approximately 90 percent of the oil and gas that once flowed through the waterway. Governments across the continent have been forced to implement drastic measures as fuel supplies dwindle and prices skyrocket. The Philippines declared a national emergency, with jeepney drivers in the capital seeing their daily earnings collapse to one-quarter of normal levels. Many have abandoned their vehicles altogether, unable to cover operating costs. Fishermen and farmers have halted production as fuel prices make their work economically unviable.

A continent under pressure

In Thailand, authorities launched an energy conservation campaign, with public broadcaster Thai PBS anchors removing their jackets on air to demonstrate the need for reduced electricity consumption. Government employees were instructed to work from home, and air conditioning settings were raised to 26-27 degrees Celsius. Sri Lanka, still recovering from its 2022 financial collapse, now faces fuel shortages despite having money to purchase supplies. The government declared Wednesdays public holidays and introduced a rationing system, while long queues at gas stations have left citizens unable to reach their workplaces.

Rationing and restrictions

Myanmar, already grappling with civil war, imposed an alternating license plate system for fuel purchases, effectively paralyzing both economic and social life. Authorities fear the emergence of a new black market as desperation grows. In India, the world’s most populous nation, the crisis has hit industrial production hard. The ceramics industry in Gujarat has shut down for a month due to natural gas shortages, leaving 400,000 workers facing unemployment and hunger. Approximately 60 percent of India’s liquefied petroleum gas is imported, with 90 percent of that volume passing through the Strait of Hormuz. In Mumbai, one-fifth of restaurants have closed due to gas shortages, and menus have been stripped of dishes requiring lengthy cooking times.

Türkiye’s strategic resilience

While Asia reels from the energy shock, Türkiye’s long-standing strategy of diversifying energy sources and supply routes has proven vital. Ankara’s investments in alternative pipelines, floating storage regasification units, and domestic resource development have helped shield the country from the worst of the crisis. Turkish officials have consistently warned that the closure of the strait would harm all nations and have called for diplomatic efforts to restore freedom of navigation—a message that resonates with increasing urgency as daily life across Asia grinds to a halt.