Fuel stations get tanker deliveries every 2 or 3 days. These will be scheduled to ensure that with normal demand there will still be some left in the forecourt tanks - say 10-20%
Typically a car may fill its tank every 5-15 days.
So the stock of fuel in forecourt tanks is sufficient to normally fill up ~ 30% of cars.
If panic buying pushes up demand for fuel by (say) 50% over normal levels and delivery is delayed by (say) a few hours due to driver shortages, some stations will run dry.
This feeds perceptions of a shortage and more panic.
Fortunately drivers can only panic once - when the car is full they cannot buy any more. This may just be a short term problem - next week everyone will be driving around with a full tank and not need a fuel station until the following weekend!
Last edited by: Terry on Sun 26 Sep 21 at 00:31
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