BURIRAM, THAILAND – An overnight fuel price surge in Thailand forced a toilet-truck operator in Buriram to raise his service fee, highlighting the strain on small businesses.
The shock of an overnight fuel hike
For years, Suthinan Nakwiang (69) from Stuek district in Buriram had driven his toilet-suction truck through his community and nearby villages with his workers. His daily routine changed abruptly when fuel prices jumped by 6 baht per litre overnight.
Suthinan said the increase had thrown his business upside down compared with previous minor adjustments.
“I was totally shocked,”
said Suthinan, small business owner.
“In the past, the price only went up by 30 to 50 satang. But 6 baht in one go – I have never experienced that!”
said Suthinan, small business owner.
Heavy truck forces a new business strategy
The core problem was his heavy truck for toilet waste disposal, which consumed large amounts of fuel on every trip. With each journey now costing significantly more, Suthinan quickly did the math and drew a drastic conclusion.
Previously he had driven his vehicle on patrol through the area to approach potential customers directly.
“That is no longer worth it,”
said Suthinan, small business owner.
“I park the truck at home and wait until customers call me.”
said Suthinan, small business owner.
Customers face higher service fees
On the day of the price increase, the phone rang twice and two customers requested the toilet-suction service. Instead of the usual 300 baht, Suthinan now charged 350 baht per job.
He said he had not surprised his customers with the new fee.
“I informed the customers beforehand,”
said Suthinan, small business owner.
“They showed understanding.”
said Suthinan, small business owner. Whether that understanding would last if prices continued to rise remained uncertain.
Fear of further fuel and service price rises
The growing uncertainty about future costs now weighed heavily on the veteran driver. No one knew whether fuel prices at the pump would be raised again soon.
“If fuel becomes even more expensive, I will have to adjust the price for toilet suction again,”
warned Suthinan, small business owner. His customers therefore had to prepare for further price increases, with today’s 350 baht potentially rising again.
Small entrepreneurs squeezed by fuel explosion
The case of the 69‑year‑old from Buriram illustrated how the fuel price explosion affected everyday life for ordinary people. What began as a development on global commodity markets ultimately reached small tradespeople and their customers.
Many small entrepreneurs in Thailand who depended on their vehicle fleets now faced the same dilemma: either raise prices or accept losses.
“I do not want to alienate customers. But I have to be able to feed my family,”
said Suthinan, small business owner, summarising his predicament.
What customers in Thailand should know now
Anyone in Thailand needing a toilet-suction service had to expect higher prices as a result of the 6 baht per litre increase. The new rate of 350 baht per pit was now the guideline and could be adjusted again if fuel costs climbed further.
The report also offered a practical tip for cost-conscious customers. Those wanting to save were advised not to book a single trip, but to have several pits emptied at once, which reduced fuel consumption for the driver and could lower the final cost for clients.
Rising costs raise wider price concerns
The surge in fuel prices was not only affecting large companies, but also small service providers in daily life across Thailand. Even simple services were becoming noticeably more expensive, with no clear end in sight to the trend.
The situation in Buriram raised broader questions about a possible new wave of price increases. While there was no clear outlook, the pressures on small operators like Suthinan suggested that further cost pass‑through to consumers was increasingly likely.