Thailand Energy Use Surges 2.1% As Economy Grows

Thailand's Office of Energy Policy and Planning (OEPP) Director Wattanpong Kuroowat revealed that commercial energy consumption in the first three months of 2025 reached approximately 2,080 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day, a 2.1% increase from the same period last year. Oil consumption rose 5.0% due to higher demand for refined petroleum products, natural gas usage climbed 4.6% to fuel increased electricity generation, and hydroelectric and imported power surged 19.1%. Coal consumption fell 7.4% and lignite dropped 56.0% due to reduced production.

The energy increase mirrors Thailand's economic performance, with GDP expanding 2.8% in the first quarter of 2025, accelerated from 2.5% in the previous quarter, driven by agricultural, manufacturing, and service sectors. Merchandise exports jumped 9.8% and real export value grew 15.5%. However, foreign tourist arrivals totaled 9.32 million in the first quarter, down from 9.55 million in the same period last year.

Refined oil product consumption averaged 153.5 million liters daily, up 4.9%, while oil production reached 185.9 million liters per day, increasing 2.2%. Refined oil imports rose 33.7% to 5.0 million liters daily, but exports fell 15.7% to 20.2 million liters daily. Gasoline consumption reached 33.2 million liters daily (up 6.3%), diesel hit 74.2 million liters daily (up 5.1%), and jet fuel consumed 20.3 million liters daily (up 4.3%) as air traffic increased 7.4%. LPG usage rose 4.2% to 18.0 thousand tons daily.

Natural gas consumption increased 6.9% to 4,754 million cubic feet daily, with 61% dedicated to electricity generation, which rose 9.4% from higher demand. Coal and lignite consumption fell 19.0% overall, with lignite dropping 56.0% from reduced electricity generation by Thailand's state utility. Total electricity consumption in the first quarter reached 51,127 gigawatt-hours.