SINGAPORE, March 18 (Reuters) - Cambodia is importing more fuel from suppliers in Singapore and Malaysia to make ‌up for supply shortfalls from Vietnam and China, its energy minister told Reuters on Wednesday, as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran squeezes fuel availability globally.

About a third of the 6,300 petrol stations in the country of nearly 18 million people closed last week due to uncertainty over the impact of the conflict on fuel prices, but only 5.77% are closed currently, Energy Minister ​Keo Rottanak told Reuters.

The Reuters Power Up newsletter provides everything you need to know about the global energy industry. Sign up here.

Advertisement · Scroll to continue

Vietnam and China have restricted fuel exports until at least the end of March to arrest potential domestic shortages. Cambodia ​and neighbouring Thailand stopped fuel trade after the onset of an armed conflict in July.

Thailand and Vietnam together accounted ⁠for over 60% of Cambodia's annual petroleum product imports in 2024, while Singapore and Malaysia made up nearly a third and China accounted for around ​7%, according to data from International Trade Centre, a Geneva-based UN-WTO trade agency.

Rottanak said Cambodia was boosting imports from Singapore and Malaysia due to export ​restrictions elsewhere, adding that existing suppliers are also trying to export fuel despite tightening supply.

"We're still able to import a little bit from China. But because we have strong partnerships with global suppliers Total (TTEF.PA), opens new tab and Chevron (CVX.N), opens new tab, they are able to mitigate some of the risk," he said in an interview with Reuters.

Rottanak did not provide specifics on when the ​supplies from Singapore and Malaysia would arrive, but said current fuel stockpiles were comparable to historical levels.

Gasoline and diesel exports from the two countries ​to Cambodia in the first 18 days of this month were 25% higher than the same period last year, but 40% lower than in the final 18 days ‌of February, ⁠Kpler data showed.

Cambodia has no oil refinery, and has less than a month's supply of diesel, jet fuel, liquefied petroleum gas and petrol under normal conditions, Rottanak said.

Item 1 of 5 Tuk-tuks queue to fill LPG and gasoline at a gas station, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 24, 2026. REUTERS/Roun Ry

Tuk-tuks queue to fill LPG and gasoline at a gas station, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 24, 2026.

"We are not yet 100% insulated at this stage, but the inflow seems to be okay for the time being," he said.