Faced with the complicated developments of the international political and security situation, especially the escalating conflict in the Middle East affecting the global energy market, the Domestic Market Management and Development Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) requests Departments of Industry and Trade of provinces and cities to urgently strengthen inspection and control of gasoline and oil business activities, promptly detect and strictly handle violations, contributing to stabilizing the domestic market.
Accordingly, on March 3, 2026, the Domestic Market Management and Development Department (TTTN Department) issued Official Dispatch No. 544 requesting to strengthen inspection and control of gasoline and oil business activities in the face of complex developments in the international situation.
Accordingly, recently, the political and international security situation has had many unpredictable fluctuations, especially the escalating conflict in the Middle East region, which has directly impacted the global energy market, affecting the supply and price level of gasoline and oil. In this context, in order to proactively prevent risks, promptly detect and strictly handle violations of the law in gasoline and oil business activities, the TTTN Department requests Departments of Industry and Trade of provinces and cities to direct Market Management Sub-Departments to drastically and synchronously implement key tasks.
The Market Management force needs to proactively implement all professional measures of management according to the area; strengthen monitoring and closely grasp the developments of supply and demand, and gasoline and oil selling prices in the managed area. Through this, promptly detect abnormal signs such as goods shortages, unreasonable price increases, supply disruptions or sales suspensions without legitimate reasons to have appropriate handling measures.
In parallel with grasping the situation, units need to promote inspection and control in a focused and key direction for businesses and gasoline and oil retail stores. Inspection must ensure timely detection, prevention and strict handling of violations, especially acts of hoarding goods to create supply scarcity, arbitrarily increasing prices, selling at prices not in accordance with listed prices, trading in smuggled gasoline and oil, of unknown origin or not ensuring quality. For serious, complex, and beyond-the-level cases, it is required to immediately report to competent authorities and closely coordinate with relevant functional forces to handle them in accordance with the law.
In addition, the TTTN Department requests to closely combine inspection work with propaganda, guiding traders to strictly comply with legal regulations, and raise awareness of responsibility in ensuring supply and stabilizing the market. At the same time, clarify and handle responsibilities for heads of market management agencies at all levels and civil servants in charge of the area if they do not promptly detect and handle violations occurring in the area.
