"Holding Empty Containers, Hoarding Gasoline" UK Panic Buying Enters Fifth Day

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] The fuel shortage crisis in the UK, caused by a shortage of fuel transport drivers due to Brexit (the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union) and the impact of COVID-19, has not eased even after five days. As 'panic buying' demand spreads across the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has personally urged people to stop hoarding fuel.

According to major foreign media on the 28th (local time), panic buying demand due to the shortage of gasoline supply in the UK is expanding nationwide. As supply decreases and panic buying demand overlaps, gas stations are running out of gasoline stock one after another.

The hardest hit areas are London and the southeastern cities. Photos have been posted on social media showing drivers coming out with empty containers to fill fuel at gas stations.

At a gas station in London, there were incidents where a driver cutting in line threatened others with a weapon, and even assaulted the gas station owner who closed the station due to running out of fuel. Cases of drivers unable to refuel after visiting ten stations or waiting for several hours have been reported frequently, and school buses have also been unable to operate properly.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson mentioned panic buying for the first time since the crisis began and urged restraint. He appealed, "The situation is improving, and the supply chain will soon return to normal. Drivers must behave normally."

Grant Shapps, the UK Secretary of State for Transport, also urged an end to panic buying, saying, "We are beginning to see signs that the situation is stabilizing."

This fuel shortage crisis was caused by restricted logistics movement within the UK due to a shortage of transport workers resulting from Brexit and COVID-19.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many foreign transport workers returned to their home countries, and new inflows decreased after Brexit, intensifying the shortage of transport workers. The industry estimates that the shortage of transport workers is about 100,000.

With the year-end peak season approaching, the sense of crisis is further escalating. The market has already raised concerns that gasoline shortages may occur as Christmas demand revives due to supply shortages.