Southeast Asian countries are shifting their oil imports from the Persian Gulf to alternative suppliers, tapping Brunei, Libya, the US, and others to keep their economies running, official trade statistics and shipping data show.

More than two months after the US-Iran war broke out in late February, countries that rely heavily on Middle Eastern oil, such as Thailand and Vietnam, have been forced to find new suppliers as supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz remain essentially blocked.

According to maritime shipment data from Kpler, a European trade research company, Thailand’s crude oil and condensate imports from the UAE fell by more than 50% in April, versus February, to 160,000 barrels per day.

The drop was partly offset by shipments from Brunei, which rose from zero in February to 71,000 barrels per day, the highest level recorded since 2018. Imports from Libya averaged about 113,000 barrels per day, a 28% increase from two months earlier.

Government statistics confirm the country’s diversification of oil suppliers. According to March trade data released by the commerce ministry on April 24, crude oil imports from Saudi Arabia slid 43%, while those from the UAE were down 6% by volume from a year ago. Conversely, crude imports from Libya jumped 54%. Thailand also imported from Argentina and Guyana, which shipped no oil to the country in March 2025.

“Thailand is also seeking oil from several sources, including Brazil, Nigeria, and Kazakhstan, and we’ve got good responses.” deputy prime minister and foreign minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told reporters in March, underscoring the country’s diversification efforts.

Vietnam has been among the hardest hit of the region’s oil importers. 80% of its crude imports last year came from Kuwait, whose exports have nearly ground to a halt. Import volume fell to 159,000 barrels per day in April from 375,000 barrels per day two months earlier. Kpler data show that Vietnam sourced oil from Angola, Argentina, and the Ivory Coast in March, and from the US in April.

North of Vietnam, a refinery in Thanh Hoa operated by Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical announced in late March that it had secured sufficient crude supplies to continue operating through the end of May. Japanese oil company Idemitsu Kosan, the parent company of Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical, will supply Vietnam with about four million barrels of crude oil from alternative suppliers, Nikkei reported earlier.

Singapore, the world’s top ship fueling hub and a major petrochemical production center, has also moved swiftly to diversify its supplies. Crude and condensate imports fell to about 388,000 barrels per day in April, down a sharp 61% or so from February. More than 60% of Singapore’s imports now come from the US, according to Kpler data.

Meanwhile, Brunei has emerged as a regional export hub. In April, the oil-rich Southeast Asian country exported 105,000 barrels per day, the highest level in five years.

Muyu Xu, a senior crude oil analyst at Kpler, also noted Russia’s emergence as an alternative source for the region. “Asian refiners are expected to actively seek Russian crude as the most readily deliverable alternative,” she said, but cautioned that limited tradable volumes are unlikely to reverse the supply crunch.

While concerns over shortages persist, Southeast Asian countries saw robust export growth in March overall, official statistics show.

Thailand’s total exports hit a record USD 35.1 billion in March, up 18.7% from a year earlier, supported by strength in the electronics sector and sustained momentum from artificial intelligence-related demand.

Vietnam’s exports rose 20%, year-on-year, in March, driven by manufacturing. Strong shipments of electronics, computers, and machinery underpinned the growth. Malaysia’s exports climbed 8.3% from a year earlier, supported mainly by manufacturing.

Singapore’s benchmark non-oil domestic exports rose 15.3% in March from a year earlier, accelerating from 4% growth the previous month, as electronics shipments continued to expand.

“Thanks to the AI boom, tech-exposed economies like Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam are better positioned in trade,” said Yun Liu, a senior ASEAN economist at HSBC. However, she noted the benefits are unevenly distributed. “Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam stand out naturally, given their heavy exposure to the electronics industry,” followed by Thailand and the Philippines. “Indonesia, on the other hand, has minimal exposure,” she said.

This article first appeared on Nikkei Asia. It has been republished here as part of 36Kr’s ongoing partnership with Nikkei.