Phnom Penh: Diesel prices in Cambodia have more than doubled since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, the Ministry of Commerce said.

In an announcement on Friday night, the ministry said a liter of diesel now costs 8,100 riels ($2.03), marking a 110 per cent increase from 3,850 riels ($0.96) at the end of February.

Petrol and LPG Also See Sharp Rise

Regular gasoline is now priced at 5,500 riels ($1.37) per liter, up 42.8 per cent from 3,850 riels ($0.96) at February’s end.

Meanwhile, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) costs 3,900 riels ($0.97) per liter, reflecting a 95 per cent rise from 2,000 riels ($0.50) in the same period.

Government Takes Steps to Ease Impact

In an effort to mitigate the rising fuel costs, the government reduced import duties and taxes on fuel products on March 20.

Additionally, on March 28, authorities lowered import duties on electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), electric stoves, and solar-powered devices to encourage alternative energy adoption.

Cambodia relies entirely on imported petroleum and diesel, as its offshore oil reserves remain unexploited.

Airfares Increase Due to Fuel Costs

Earlier, on March 31, 18 out of 36 airlines operating to and from Cambodia increased ticket prices due to rising fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict.

According to Sinn Chanserey Vutha, spokesperson for the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, airlines have added fuel surcharges based on flight distance.

Domestic airlines have raised fares by an average of $21, while foreign carriers have increased ticket prices by around $28 on average.