Bangkok: The Thai steel industry is facing significant challenges as fluctuating global crude oil prices, influenced by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, continue to drive up diesel prices in Thailand. This situation presents a substantial pressure point for the industrial sector, with the steel industry bearing the brunt of the impact due to its high energy demands. According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Nava Chantanasurakorn, Managing Director of Sahaviriya Steel Industries Public Company Limited and Vice President of the Federation of Thai Industries, highlighted the steel industry's vulnerability to rising energy costs. Producing a ton of steel requires approximately 20 gigajoules (GJ) of energy, making it one of the most energy-intensive industries. This high energy requirement means that the steel industry is acutely affected by increases in the prices of oil, LNG, and electricity. The rising energy costs have a cascading effect on production and transportation, ultimately affecting product prices. Ms. Nava outlined several adaptation strategies that the industry is employing to cope with these challenges. These strategies include increasing production efficiency by minimizing energy waste, shifting transportation modes to more cost-effective options like sea transport, and exploring alternative energy sources such as solar power and biofuels. Additionally, companies are managing labor costs by retaining skilled employees while adjusting overtime pay and shift allowances. From the perspective of the Federation of Thai Industries, Mr. Nava emphasized the need for a stable energy policy to provide clarity and continuity for long-term investment decisions. He also called for the government to implement anti-dumping measures to protect the domestic market from cheap steel imports and to promote the use of domestically produced goods to stimulate the circular economy. The government is currently working to stabilize oil and electricity prices, offering the private sector time to adjust. However, Mr. Nava b elieves that close monitoring is necessary, especially over the next three months, to navigate this crisis effectively.