Some fuel stations in Yangon have temporarily closed after running out of fuel, leading to growing queues of vehicles at stations that still have supply, according to local drivers.

Over the past two days, several petrol stations in the city have reportedly suspended sales due to depleted stocks. In some cases, stations were forced to shut down mid-sale and can only resume operations once new fuel deliveries arrive.

“Some stations run out while selling and have to close. They can only reopen when fuel trucks come back. This has been happening for two or three days,” said a driver in Yangon.

Drivers also reported difficulties when stations stopped selling fuel while they were still waiting in line, forcing them to wait for long periods without success.

“I went early this morning to queue for fuel but couldn’t get any. When it was the third car ahead of me, they announced that the daily quota was already full. It was only 8 a.m., and they stopped selling 92 and 95 gasoline. Diesel was still available. I waited about four hours but still got nothing, which was very frustrating,” said a car owner.

As a result, longer queues are forming at stations that remain open, particularly at larger outlets such as Max and Denko. Some drivers choose to stay in line rather than search for other stations once they are close to the front.

“At bigger stations like Max and Denko, the queues are getting longer. Some people check with staff at closed stations, and if they’re already near the front, they just keep waiting instead of going elsewhere. I’ve experienced this twice myself,” another driver said.

Fuel is currently being sold using an upgraded system where barcodes or QR codes are scanned, and purchases are limited to a weekly quota based on a vehicle’s engine power.

Private vehicles can generally purchase their quota up to twice a week, while taxis, three-wheelers, and cargo vehicles receive fuel based on the distance they travel. However, taxis powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) are not eligible to buy fuel.