Business Daily No suits, four-day weeks: Asia's energy crunch
Mar 26, 2026
Doris Liu, economist in Malaysia, outlines which Asian economies are most exposed to energy shocks. Mohadeen Rubel, Bangladeshi garment manufacturer, talks supply-chain strain and rising costs for exporters. Putra Adinguna, Indonesian energy policy expert, discusses fuel subsidies, fiscal pain and four-day work weeks. Tran Vo, Bangkok reporter, files vivid on-the-ground scenes of queues, shortages and business impacts.
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Newsreaders Ditch Suits To Promote Energy Saving
- Thai public broadcasters removed suits to signal energy-saving and encourage higher thermostat settings of 26–27°C.
- Newsreaders adopted casual dress as a visible cue after government recommendations to save electricity.
Asia's Heavy Reliance On Hormuz Supplies
- Asia is heavily dependent on oil and LNG transiting the Strait of Hormuz, receiving ~84% of oil and 83% of LNG that pass through it.
- Doris Liu warns limited national reserves (Thailand ~2 months, Indonesia/Vietnam <20 days) mean prolonged disruption quickly causes shortages.
Local Petrol Station Owners Face Short Deliveries
- A petrol station owner in Chanthaburi reports receiving much less fuel and sending trucks to pick up inconsistent deliveries.
- Limited supply forces per-customer limits and leaves staff idle while profits shrink.