The FCCC is warning individuals and businesses against panic buying and hoarding fuel as supply due to the war in the Middle East remains volatile.
They say hoarding can occur at two levels, with consumers as individuals panic-buying and stockpiling beyond personal need, creating artificial demand spikes at the retail level, while for traders this involves deliberately withholding stock from the market to drive prices up or to sell at inflated prices once scarcity sets in.
The FCCC says tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, located between between Iran and Oman and the United Arab Emirates, has now fallen by an estimated 70 to 80 percent since the conflict escalated, and on March 2nd, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officially confirmed the strait was closed to commercial shipping.
They say Qatar has halted LNG production at its major export facilities, and Brent crude oil has surged, reaching as high as US$92 per barrel — up from US$73 before the conflict began at the end of February 2026.
The Commission says this is a quickly evolving situation, which will have a direct implication on the refined fuel prices in Fiji.
They are urging Fijian consumers to be responsible with fuel and LPG usage considering that Fiji’s majority of energy needs in transport and electricity sector is met by fossil fuel.
FCCC CEO, Senikavika Jiuta stresses Fiji's fuel stocks currently remain stable and they have confirmed incoming shipments of fuel so there is no need to rush to the pump.
She is urging all Fijians to work together to ensure that fuel remains available for all, and that responsible usage now is what will carry us through any periods of potential shortage ahead.
The CEO is pleading with people not to hoard or stockpile fuel as hoarding does not protect you and ultimately it harms everyone, including yourself.
Jiuta says panic buying is socially irresponsible and undermines the fair distribution of a vital resource for every Fijian consumer.
She says panic-buying and stockpiling will only create the very shortage people fear and if we each take only what we need, our collective supply will go much further, and we will be far better placed to weather any disruption that may arise.
FCCC says they are continuing to closely monitor the market and its impact on Fiji's supply, as well as verifying the stocks of traders and respective suppliers to ensure there are no unfair tactics being used.
They say they conducted 151 inspections across the Central, Western, and Northern divisions this month to date, verifying compliance by fuel and LPG traders with regulated price changes and the provisions of the FCCC Act 2010 where full compliance was recorded across all divisions, with no breaches detected.
Jiuta is also reminding all fuel and LPG traders that hoarding is a breach of Section 87G of the FCCC Act 2010 and any attempt to exploit the current situation, whether it be hoarding, overcharging, or non-compliance with regulated prices, breaches will be detected and dealt with severely.
She warns they have the tools, the mandate, and the enforcement reach to act, and they will.
Jiuta explains panic buying and hoarding empties service stations faster than supply can replenish them, creating an artificial crisis.
She says it means others, whether it be families, businesses, emergency services, are left without fuel they genuinely need.
She says the fuel you hoard today is the fuel your neighbour, your community, or an ambulance cannot access tomorrow.
The CEO says global shipping disruptions already mean replacement fuel takes longer to transport and with tankers rerouted, delays are being added to delivery times.
She stresses hoarding deepens this pressure.
Jiuta says with global oil prices elevated and Fiji being a price taker, will be facing a likely price impact within the coming months as every litre saved now matters, so responsible usage today serves as a buffer against the impact of any future supply tightening.
She also says that all Fijian consumers and traders need to be careful about how and when they use fuel.
She says individuals and households can consolidate their trips by combining errands into one journey instead of making multiple separate trips, use public transport or carpool where possible, defer non-essential long-distance travel until the fuel supply situation becomes clearer, and plan their budgets now as fuel and LPG prices are likely to rise in the coming weeks.
Jiuta says businesses can help reduce fuel use by optimising delivery routes and schedules to lower fuel consumption per trip, operating generators and machinery only when necessary while ensuring equipment is well maintained, and reviewing logistics operations to identify any non-essential vehicle movements that can be deferred or eliminated.
The CEO also explains that for those who may question the critical nature of current circumstances, the Strait of Hormuz crisis is described by analysts as "the biggest energy crisis since the oil embargo of the 1970s.
She says shipping giants Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, and CMA CGM have all suspended operations through the strait while the aviation sector faces particular exposure.
The CEO says tanker movements through the strait have fallen by up to 80 percent, tightening jet fuel supplies and pushing up airline costs and this has direct implications for tourism, a critical pillar of the Fiji's economy.
She stresses responsible fuel usage is not just a personal choice, it is a national obligation, so we must do our part.
