According to reports, following are the latest updates on the ongoing energy crises and fuel supply disruptions in parts of the APAC region, as of Thursday (30 April):

• Hong Kong: The Hong Kong government has announced it will provide diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) subsidies for public and commercial vehicles. The diesel subsidy of HKD three per litre will run for two months, from 0000 hours (local time) on Thursday (30 April) to 2358 hours on 29 June. Authorities plan to roll out the LPG subsidy in late May.
• China: State owned oil companies have been given the green light to begin discussing fuel exports with Australian buyers after a late-night meeting between Foreign Minister Penny Wong and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, in a breakthrough that could help ease a deepening supply crunch. Wong stated that Beijing had agreed to open channels between Chinese suppliers and Australian companies on jet fuel, describing the move as an “important first step” towards restoring flows disrupted by the Middle East conflict, though she cautioned negotiations were still at an early stage, and no volumes or timelines had been locked in. Wong stated that the Chinese government’s decision to facilitate talks between suppliers and Australian buyers reflected a shared interest in maintaining regional energy flows.
• Fiji: Fiji has secured major fuel shipments totaling 118.55 million litres for delivery in May and June, according to Minister for Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau. He said the deliveries are part of a forward-planned supply strategy designed to maintain stability in the country’s fuel system amid continued global market uncertainty and wider supply chain disruptions. A significant share of the fuel is expected to arrive in early May, while a further 17.2 million litres has been confirmed for June. Authorities expect national fuel stock levels to improve steadily as the shipments arrive and to exceed 59 percent of storage capacity by the end of May. He confirmed that Fiji remains in Phase One, indicating normal operating conditions.
• New Zealand: On Thursday (30 April), Air New Zealand announced temporary flight reductions across its Tauranga network between Monday (29 June) and Sunday (26 July), citing sustained high jet fuel prices as the primary driver. The adjustments include the removal of 27 return flights on the Tauranga–Auckland route, 12 on Tauranga–Wellington, and five on Tauranga–Christchurch, primarily targeting off-peak and lower-demand services. Despite these reductions, approximately 375 return flights will continue to operate during the period. The airline confirmed that around two percent of passengers will be affected, with most still expected to reach their destinations on the same day. Affected travellers are being notified and offered alternative arrangements, including rebooking, credit, or refunds. While Air New Zealand maintains that the changes are designed to minimise disruption and preserve operational efficiency, concerns have been raised regarding potential impacts on regional connectivity.
• Australia: On Wednesday (29 April), Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that next month’s federal budget will not introduce a new tax on existing gas export contracts, rejecting calls for a 25 percent levy on producers and criticising the proposal as “populist.” The decision comes amid concerns that such a move could strain relations with key Asian trading partners vital for Australia’s diesel and petrol supplies. In a recent address, Albanese emphasised the importance of gas exports to the country’s fuel security, particularly in the context of the ongoing global energy crisis.
• Thailand: As per reports published on Wednesday (29 April), the Thai cabinet has approved a plan permitting the Oil Fuel Fund Office (Offo) to borrow THB 20 billion to boost the liquidity of the Oil Fuel Fund and stabilise domestic fuel prices amid the global oil crisis. The borrowing, pending inclusion in the public debt management plan, is scheduled for use between June and August 2026, with repayment set from July 2028 to August 2031. Officials stated the move aims to cushion the impact of volatile global energy prices, maintain fuel costs at reasonable levels, and ensure alignment with international market conditions.
• Laos: The government has intensified efforts to stabilise the economy and strengthen regulation in key sectors following a review of April’s socio-economic performance at a cabinet meeting held on Monday (27 April) and Tuesday (28 April), chaired by Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. The meeting outlined priority actions for May. Authorities also noted that recent fuel shortages have been resolved with supply returning to normal, and directed authorities to develop a national master plan aimed at achieving 30 percent electric vehicle adoption by 2030.
• South Korea: South Korea’s presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik stated that during this week, the country has secured 273 million barrels of crude oil and 2.1 million tons of naphtha through the end of the year following high-level engagements with producers including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Both countries have signaled preferential treatment. Saudi Arabia has reportedly pledged to prioritize South Korea in supplying crude and naphtha, while the UAE agreed to provide 24 million barrels of emergency crude and indicated that no other country would receive oil ahead of Seoul.
• Malaysia: The Ministry of Finance announced on Wednesday (29 April) an increase in retail prices of RON95 and RON97 petrol for the period from Thursday (30 April) to Wednesday (06 May), while diesel prices in Peninsular Malaysia will remain unchanged; the adjustment has been attributed to continued volatility in global petroleum markets linked to the ongoing West Asia situation, with weekly revisions carried out under the Automatic Pricing Mechanism based on international market trends from the previous week; authorities stated that global supply constraints and damage to production and refining infrastructure in West Asia are expected to keep fuel prices elevated, while urging prudent fuel usage and maintaining that adequate fuel supply continues across the country.
• Bangladesh: Long queues of motorcycles and cars continue to be reported at local fuel filling stations. Public transport operations have declined due to diesel shortages. Farmers and fishermen are not getting enough diesel to meet their needs. Meanwhile, electricity generation has also declined due to the energy crisis. Against a demand exceeding 16,000 megawatts, production stands at 13,000 to 14,000 megawatts. As a result, more than 2,000 megawatts of load shedding is being imposed daily, most of which is borne by rural populations. While load shedding is relatively lower in Dhaka and other cities, rural areas are experiencing 7–8 hours of outages. Diesel prices have increased by 15 percent from BDT 100 to BDT 115, the highest in the country’s history. Prices of other fuels have also reached record levels: octane has risen from BDT 120 to BDT 140, petrol from BDT 116 to BDT 135, and kerosene from BDT 112 to BDT 130.