What moved the bunker market this week?

Every Friday, our research team breaks down the key developments shaping bunker prices, fuel availability and global shipping. Explore the week’s essential stories, understand the forces driving the market, and see what bunker buyers should be watching next.

Download this week’s market update (PDF) (recommended for mobile) »

Maersk ship takes bio-ethanol in Houston

Danish container shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk has bunkered one of its methanolcapable container ships with 100% bio-ethanol at the Port of Houston. Houston-based barge operator Kirby delivered the stem to the Tangier Maersk ship-to-ship (STS). The fuel was sourced from US biofuel producer POET. The quantity was
not disclosed.

Maersk is testing ethanol to widen the range of fuels its methanol-capable fleet can burn. The Laura Maersk has already run on 100% ethanol, and the Antonia Maersk took an ethanol stem in Barcelona.

Other owners are weighing the same option. Container line X-Press Feeders has trialled a blend of 90% bio-methanol and 10% ethanol in Rotterdam, and CMA CGM took around 400 mt of bio-ethanol in Santos.

Oceania Bunkering to start STS supply at Beira in October

Bunker supplier Oceania Bunkering Mozambique will launch STS bunkering at the Beira anchorage in October. It will start with LSMGO and plans to add other grades, including VLSFO, later this year. The 2,500-mt-capacity bunker barge Great Wall Energy was delivered in mid-September and will carry out the deliveries.

The company is targeting ships transiting the Mozambique Channel, as some vessels reroute around the Cape of Good Hope. Mozambican state entities Petromoc and CFM Logistics are backing the launch. Oceania already supplies VLSFO, MGO and HSFO at Maputo, Beira, Nacala, Pemba and Quelimane.

Petrobras adds HSFO to its Rio de Janeiro bunker offer

Brazil’s state-controlled energy major Petrobras has started offering HSFO in Rio de Janeiro, with prompt deliveries available. The company told customers on Tuesday that the grade widens its bunker range and gives buyers a cheaper option.

The HSFO is produced at Petrobras’s own refineries and, like all its bunker grades in Brazil, is free of petrochemical residues, the company said.

The new grade comes as VLSFO and LSMGO supply has been tight in Rio de Janeiro. Both grades have been available only on prior consultation and up to 10 days of lead time has been recommended. Supply has also been tight at Paranagua and Rio Grande, while Santos has not had any LSMGO available

EU must set LNG methane-slip limit – Opportunity Green

The European Commission must set a measurable limit on methane slip from LNG-capable ships under the EU’s sustainable investment rules, climate non-profit Opportunity Green said, interpreting a General Court ruling published on Wednesday.

Environmental groups had challenged criteria introduced in 2023 under the EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, which let some ships running on fossil fuels qualify as green investments. The court found the Commission had failed to set a methane-slip threshold in those criteria.

Methane slip is unburned methane escaping into the air, including from LNG engines. The ruling does not stop LNG-capable ships qualifying, Opportunity Green said. Dutch campaign group Fossielvrij NL called it a “small slap on the wrist”, arguing that LNG ships could still pass depending on the limit the Commission sets.

Either party can appeal to the Court of Justice on points of law within two months.

Kokuka Sangyo tanker to carry and bunker methanol in Japan

Japanese shipping firm Kokuka Sangyo’s first methanolcapable vessel, the chemical tanker Kokuryu Maru, will carry and supply methanol around Japan under charter to Mitsubishi Gas Chemical.

The tanker took its first stem of mass-balanced biomethanol at Kinoe Port, Hiroshima Prefecture, on 24 September, supplied from Mitsubishi Gas Chemical’s Niigata plant. It will run on bio-methanol.

Nakilat’s first LPG-capable carrier comes into operation

Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) has taken delivery of the Energy North, an 88,000-cbm gas carrier that can run on LPG or conventional bunker fuels and carry either LPG or ammonia cargoes. It is entering into operation this week. The ship is the first of six Nakilat newbuilds: two LNG carriers and four LPG ammonia carriers.

DNV counts 183 LPG-capable ships worldwide, with 165 more due by 2030.

US fuel oil supply rises 5% in September

US fuel oil supply averaged around 291,000 b/d in September, up by 14,000 b/d from 277,000 b/d in August, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Supply tracks fuel oil drawn from storage to bunker blenders, bulk terminals, refinery coking units and power plants, and can also point to demand.

August was the weakest month since at least April, and supply remains well below June’s peak of around 353,000 b/d. Refinery output edged up by around 3,000 b/d to 346,000 b/d, its highest since at least April, following a 39,000 b/d jump in August. Imports rose by around 24,000 b/d to 150,000 b/d, and have swung between 112,000 b/d and 155,000 b/d since May.

Total US fuel oil stocks rose by 1.08 million bbls on the month to 23.06 million bbls. That is a second straight monthly build, after three months of draws to a July low of 21.38 million bbls. Stocks are now at their highest since April, but below April’s 24.46 million bbls.

What moved the bunker market this week?

Every Friday, our research team breaks down the key developments shaping bunker prices, fuel availability and global shipping. Explore the week’s essential stories, understand the forces driving the market, and see what bunker buyers should be watching next.

Download this week’s market update (PDF) (recommended for mobile) »

Google, Microsoft and DSV join ZEMBA initiative

Microsoft, Google and logistics firm DSV have joined the Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) to reduce their Scope 3 supply chain emissions. ZEMBA pools demand from cargo owners and tenders for shipping services that use low- and zero-emission fuels.

Hapag-Lloyd used liquefied biomethane in ZEMBA’s inaugural tender and, alongside North Sea Container Line (NCL), won its subsequent e-fuel tender for 2027 in December 2025.

Hapag-Lloyd plans to use e-methanol on one of its transoceanic trade lanes, while NCL will use green ammonia on a northern European route. Together they are expected to cut around 120,000 mt of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over three years from 2027 by consuming these fuels. ZEMBA members will pay a premium for the reductions, which will be allocated to participating cargo owners through a book-and-claim mechanism.

Petrobras restarts Rio Grande bunker supply after storm

Brazilian state-owned energy firm Petrobras has resumed bunker operations at the Rio Grande Terminal after a tropical storm caused a power outage in the southern city on Monday.

Winds of more than 100 km/h damaged local infrastructure, and loading restarted once power was restored and the facilities had been inspected. VLSFO and LSMGO supply was tight before the storm. Rio Grande is also where Petrobras blends and loads B24-VLSFO.

In January, Petrobras agreed to supply up to 12,000 mt of B24-VLSFO this year to Norwegian chemical tanker owner Odfjell via dedicated barges loading at the terminal.

Azane to source ammonia from Yara for bunker operations

Yara will supply ammonia to Azane Fuel Solutions through its production and logistics network, while Azane will sell the fuel to bunker buyers. The supply will feed Azanes recent truck-to-ship ammonia bunker framework agreement with energy firm Equinor, with the first deliveries expected to start later this year.

Azane was established in 2021 out of a partnership between shipowner Amon Maritime and gas-transfer technology firm ECOnnect Energy to build a network for ammonia as a bunker fuel. Its subsidiary Azane Infrastructure is developing three ammonia bunker terminals in Florø, Risavika and Mongstad. The projects have received funding from Norwegian government enterprise Enova.

Shore power for cruise ships faces infrastructure gap

In total, 193 cruise ships across Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) 45 member cruise lines can now use shore power, more than triple the 55 vessels in 2018, according to a recent report from the association. Another 47 vessels are planned for retrofits, while 39 newbuilds on order are expected to be delivered shore-power capable, which could take the total to 279 by 2039. However, port infrastructure has not kept pace, the report found.

Only 40 ports worldwide offer at least one shore power connection for cruise vessels, representing less than 3% of ports visited by cruise ships, CLIA said.

The association said the figures show the cruise industry’s “continued investment in ship-side readiness”, but added that achieving the full emissions-reduction potential will depend on “continued investment in compatible port and energy infrastructure”.

Höegh Autoliners orders another six LNG dual-fuel vessels

Norwegian shipping firm Höegh Autoliners has ordered six LNG dual-fuel pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) from China Merchants Heavy Industry in Jiangsu for delivery between 2029 and 2031. The new order takes its dual-fuel PCTC fleet to 18 vessels, including eight LNG-capable ships in operation or on order and four ammonia-capable PCTCs due by 2027. Options for four more vessels and reserved yard capacity for another four could take the fleet to 26

EPS receives LPG dual-fuel vessel from Jiangnan Shipyard

Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has taken delivery of the 93,000-cbm LPG dual-fuel very large ammonia carrier (VLAC) Lilac Cove from China’s Jiangnan Shipyard. The vessel can carry both ammonia and LPG and is the second of six VLACs being built for EPS, following the Ivy Cove that was delivered in June. The global fleet of LPG-capable vessels currently stands at 179, with another 160 due for delivery by 2030, according to class society DNV.

Gibraltar’s August bunker calls rose 6% on year

Gibraltar recorded 476 bunker calls in August, up 6% from 449 calls in the same month last year, according to data from the Gibraltar Port Authority. The port recorded 3,809 bunker calls in the first eight months of 2026, an 11% increase from the same period last year.

Monthly bunker calls in 2026 have exceeded the five-year average for 2021-2025 in every month except January, pointing to stronger bunker demand in Gibraltar this year.

August calls were above the five-year monthly average of 453. Demand typically gets a boost during the summer cruise season. Gibraltar received 144 cruise ship calls in the first eight months of this year, up from 125 in the same period last year.

Prompt bunker availability in the Gibraltar Strait remains tight, with recommended lead times of 10-12 days for reliable coverage. Slight congestion has been reported in Gibraltar this week, with around eight vessels awaiting bunkers on Wednesday, according to port agent MH Bland

What moved the bunker market this week?

Every Friday, our research team breaks down the key developments shaping bunker prices, fuel availability and global shipping. Explore the week’s essential stories, understand the forces driving the market, and see what bunker buyers should be watching next.

Download this week’s market update (PDF) (recommended for mobile) »

World’s first operational ammonia bunker vessel unveiled

Chinese firm Shenghang Shipping’s converted gas carrier Shenghang Yongle has become the world’s first operational ammonia bunker vessel, after gaining class certification from the China Classification Society for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering.

The 5,500-cbm vessel was converted from a liquefied-gas carrier to transport liquid ammonia and supply it to other vessels. Designed by Swedish ship designer FKAB and built at China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry’s Dingheng shipyard, the vessel had its low-temperature cargo handling and two reliquefaction systems adapted for ammonia. The conversion also brought new operating procedures, risk assessments and safety measures covering ammonia toxicity, leak detection and bunkering risks. The companies have not disclosed where the vessel will be deployed or which port will host its first commercial ammonia bunker operations.

Navigator Gas taps Everllence for ethane dual-fuel retrofits

Gas shipping firm Navigator Gas has contracted German engine maker Everllence to convert two of its liquefied-gas carriers, Navigator Nova and Navigator Prominence, to run on ethane. The vessels will be fitted with Everllence’s ethane dual-fuel engines, with the retrofits to be carried out by COSCO Shipping Heavy Industries at its Nantong yard in China.

Work on the first vessel is due to start in March 2027. The project builds on Navigator Gas’ experience with the Navigator Aurora, which underwent the same conversion by Everllence in 2018 and has since accumulated eight years of operational experience with the technology.

Florida bio-methanol producer targets bunker demand

US-based startup Demeter Energy plans to build a 100,000 mt/year bio-methanol production plant at the Port of Manatee, targeting demand from shipping and other industries.

The planned facility is expected to produce the fuel from woody biomass and other organic waste, and include a carbon capture and storage system designed to capture around 200,000 mt/year of CO2 generated during the production process. Manatee is a deepwater port at the entrance to Tampa Bay, with access to trade routes through the Panama Canal.

Demeter Energy has not specified a development or production timeline for the project. The company eventually plans to develop modular bio-methanol plants across the US, with individual production capacities of 100,000-250,000 mt/year.

Industry warns EU loophole could dilute e-fuel target

More than 20 organisations have urged EU lawmakers to close an accounting gap in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1185 that could weaken future demand for synthetic marine fuels.

The regulation does not clearly exclude electrolytic hydrogen used to produce biofuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) from counting towards the resulting fuel’s synthetic fuel share, said the SASHA Coalition, one of the signatories to the joint letter.

This could allow biofuel refiners to claim they are delivering e-fuels without building dedicated synthetic fuel plants. The letter targets aviation’s fuel mandate, but the signatories said the accounting would carry into shipping, where FuelEU Maritime could impose a 2% synthetic fuel sub-target from 1 January 2034. They argued that leaving the regulation unchanged could allow biofuels produced using green hydrogen to count towards the future synthetic fuel subtarget requirement, potentially reducing demand for synthetic bunker fuel production.

Exmar adds new LPG dual-fuel gas carrier to its fleet

Belgian shipping firm Exmar has taken delivery of a 41,000-cbm LPG dual-fuel gas carrier for its French subsidiary, Exmar France. The company also received three similar vessels earlier this year. The deliveries form part of a wider expansion of Exmar’s LPG dual-fuel mid-size gas carrier fleet, covering 10 vessels. Four vessels were added through a newbuilding contract from Avance Gas, while six were chartered from an undisclosed Japanese shipowner.

LR and K Shipbuilding to develop ethanol-capable tanker

Lloyd’s Register (LR) and South Korean shipbuilder K Shipbuilding will develop a 50,000 dwt ethanol-capable medium-range tanker. LR will review the vessel’s design, stability, structural requirements and integration of ethanol fuel tanks, while K Shipbuilding will lead development. Ethanol’s established use as a cargo makes the vessel “a practical place to assess it as a fuel,” said Theo Kourmpelis, LR’s global business director for tankers.

Singapore bio-bunker sales increased in August

Singapore’s bio-blended bunker sales rose sharply in August, increasing by 48% to 57,000 mt, which was the highest monthly volume since April, according to preliminary data from the Maritime and Port Authority
of Singapore.

Of the total, approximately 48,000 mt comprised bio-VLSFO, typically a 24% blend ratio in Singapore, while the remaining 9,000 mt was bio-HSFO. From January to August, Singapore’s total biofuel bunker sales stood at 494,000 mt, down substantially from 1.03 million mt during the same period last year.

LNG bunker sales remained broadly stable at 59,000 mt in August. Sales of B100 (100% biofuel) were recorded for a fifth consecutive month, with around 800 mt sold in August. There were no methanol bunker sales for the sixth consecutive month, and no ammonia bunker sales have been recorded so far this year.

What moved the bunker market this week?

Every Friday, our research team breaks down the key developments shaping bunker prices, fuel availability and global shipping. Explore the week’s essential stories, understand the forces driving the market, and see what bunker buyers should be watching next.

Download this week’s market update (PDF) (recommended for mobile) »

First bio-methanol STS bunkering completed in Guangzhou

Chinese producer CIMC Enric supplied the first ship-to-ship (STS) bio-methanol stem at Guangzhou Port, delivering around 1,000 mt to NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers’ methanol dual-fuel vessel Green Future. Sinobunker’s bunker vessel Daqing 268 delivered the fuel.

The bio-methanol was produced at CIMC Enric’s 50,000 mt/year facility in Zhanjiang.

The operation builds on previous bio-methanol bunkering in Shenzhen and Hong Kong and completes a closed-loop supply network across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), said Lu Shengwei Raymond, senior business development manager at CIMC Green Energy.

In March, CIMC Enric supplied 500 mt of bio-methanol to a China Merchants Energy Shipping vessel, completing the first bio-methanol STS delivery in Hong Kong.

Orlen and Port of Gdynia to assess LNG bunkering potential

Polish refiner Orlen has partnered with the Port of Gdynia Authority to assess the potential for LNG and bio-LNG bunkering at the port. The two will examine market demand, infrastructure and regulatory requirements, focusing on the needs of ferry, container and ro-ro operators.

Options under review include ship-to-ship bunkering for larger vessels and alongside bunkering carried out simultaneously with cargo handling. The move follows the August commissioning of Orlen’s Marine Transshipment Terminal at Gdańsk, which began operations handling MGO and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) for biofuel production.

Vale taps HMM’s methanol-capable newbuilds

Brazilian mining firm Vale has signed a long-term shipping contract with South Korea’s HMM for iron ore transport, tied to HMM’s June order for eight 210,000-dwt bulk carriers. HMM will begin transporting iron ore in 2030, with a 25-year contract term for each vessel.

The bulk carriers will be capable of running on methanol, ethanol and conventional marine fuels. Methanol and ethanol have similar low flash points and cetane numbers, both requiring a small pilot-fuel injection for ignition, though engines require specific calibration for each fuel.

The newbuilds will also feature wind-assisted propulsion and options for future ammonia and LNG retrofits. This marks HMM’s third long-term deal with Vale, following two 10-year contracts signed in 2025.

IMO majority holds firm on GHG pricing and fund – UCL

The 22nd Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 22) met on 1-4 September to consider proposals addressing concerns over the draft MARPOL Annex VI amendments approved at MEPC 83 in April 2025. A report by University College London’s (UCL) Shipping and Oceans Research Group on the closed-door meetings found most member states still back the Net-Zero Framework’s core structure.

24 countries favoured keeping the GHG fuel intensity (GFI) targets approved at MEPC 83 unchanged, while 30 were open to easing 2029-35 requirements, often paired with steeper cuts later. 35 states backed retaining the 2040 target, while 16 wanted it revisited. A two-tier GFI structure was supported by 30 countries, compared with 17 favouring a single-tier alternative.

On the financial mechanism, 38 states backed keeping a central fund fed by remedial-unit payments by non-compliant ships, while 17 favoured a technical-only system.

IINO Lines secures charter for LPG dual-fuel vessel

Japanese tanker operator IINO Kaiun Kaisha (IINO Lines) has signed a time charter with commodities trading group BGN for a 90,000-cbm LPG dual-fuel gas carrier.

The vessel will be built by South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and is scheduled for delivery in December 2029.

It will be IINO Lines’ fourth LPG dual-fuel vessel. The deal follows Dorian LPG’s recent order for three similar vessels, as the global LPG-capable fleet continues to expand.

Osaka Gas completes first STS LNG bunkering in Osaka Bay

Japanese gas supplier Osaka Gas has completed its first ship-to-ship (STS) LNG bunker operation in Osaka Bay, using the LNG bunker vessel Seto Azure, owned by affiliated company Osaka Bay LNG Shipping. The vessel supplied an unspecified quantity of LNG to a pure car and truck carrier calling at the Port of Kobe.

Osaka Gas’ first STS LNG bunker stem overall took place in April, when it bunkered a bulk carrier in Fukuyama.

Alternative fuel vessel orders roar back in Q3 – DNV

August recorded the highest monthly alternative-fuel vessel orders since October 2024, driven overwhelmingly by LNG-capable newbuilds, according to DNV senior consultant Kristian Hammer. LNG accounted for 46 of the 52 new vessel orders placed during the month.

The global LNG-capable fleet now comprises 942 vessels in operation, with another 705 on order for delivery towards 2033.

Beyond LNG, August saw four ethanol-capable and two hydrogen-capable bulk carrier orders, with no new LPG-, methanol- or ammonia-capable vessel orders.

DNV’s database lists a combined 159 methanol- and ethanol-capable vessels in operation, with another 293 on order for delivery by 2030, while the ammonia-capable fleet comprises five vessels in operation and 41 on order. “The strong August performance follows another active month in July, when 47 alternative-fuelled vessels were added to the database,” Hammer said.

What moved the bunker market this week?

Every Friday, our research team breaks down the key developments shaping bunker prices, fuel availability and global shipping. Explore the week’s essential stories, understand the forces driving the market, and see what bunker buyers should be watching next.

Download this week’s market update (PDF) (recommended for mobile) »

Hormuz oil flows recovered, then strikes resumed

Crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz picked up in the sixth month of the US-Iran war, before both sides resumed strikes this week.

US secretary of energy Chris Wright said 17 million bbls of crude passed through the waterway on Monday, the highest in recent months, Reuters reported. Counting volumes routed around the strait, Persian Gulf flows are running above pre-war levels, ING Bank analysts said, while cautioning that the figures are uncertain. Commercial vessel transits remain in single digits.

A temporary Iran-Oman navigational corridor through the strait is being formalised, which analysts said would restore some commercial traffic.

Fighting has escalated in parallel. US Central Command resumed strikes on Iranian targets this week, and Iran hit two tankers on Tuesday.

Zhoushan restarts bunkering but supply stays tight

Bunker deliveries resumed at Zhoushan’s sheltered Xiushandong and inner Mazhi anchorages on Monday after a six-day suspension caused by four successive tropical systems.

Supply has not normalised. Lead times for VLSFO, LSMGO and HSFO have all stretched to about 10 days, from 7-10 days a week earlier, and suppliers are unsure when the port will return to full capacity, a source said. The tightness follows a two-week shutdown after Typhoon Dolphin that left heavy delivery backlogs. Singapore is also tight, with VLSFO lead times of 9-16 days on reduced availability and a shortage of blending components.

Bio-blends can push barge meters out of range – GCMD

Blending FAME with residual grades such as VLSFO and HSFO can drag a finished blend’s viscosity below the validated range of the mass flow meters (MFMs) fitted to bunker barges, the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) said in a study.

Barges are configured to a viscosity range matching the grade they normally handle, and those carrying residual fuels are validated for a higher one. MFMs measure to within 0.50% inside that range, but accuracy is not assured outside it.

GCMD recommends measuring blend viscosity at transfer conditions before delivery, and managing transfer temperature or using higher-viscosity components where needed.

GCMD also said B24 and B30 ratios are declared by suppliers, not independently verified.

Low-emission fuel demand hinges on IMO decision – DNV

Demand for low-greenhouse gas (GHG) marine fuels could range from 4-22 million mt of oil equivalent (Mtoe) by 2030 and 33-185 Mtoe by 2050, depending on what the IMO decides, classification society DNV said in the 10th edition of its Maritime Forecast to 2050.

The report models four regulatory scenarios, from adoption of the IMO’s Net-Zero Framework in its current form to outright rejection, which DNV said could bring prolonged regulatory gridlock. The spread also reflects uptake of shore power, hybridisation, nuclear power and onboard carbon capture.

Project pipelines could deliver up to 270 Mtoe of low-GHG fuel by 2030, though delays and competition from other sectors are likely to reduce the volume that can be bunkered by ships. Efficiency remains the hedge. A hydrodynamic retrofit on a 5,000-TEU vessel could cut annual fuel use by 16%, paying back in 1-4 years.

Titan charters LNG bunker vessel for western Med

Molgas-owned bunker supplier Titan Clean Fuels will charter a 6,000-cbm LNG bunker vessel to begin physical supply at Fos-Marseille, Barcelona and Genoa in the western Mediterranean. French shipowner Sogestran has ordered the vessel from China’s CIMC SOE shipyard.

Ships in the Mediterranean have burnt more low-sulphur fuels like LNG, ULSFO and LSMGO since it became an emission control area in May 2025.

CPC to start B24 supply at Kaohsiung

Taiwan’s state-owned CPC Corporation will start supplying a B24 blend at the Port of Kaohsiung in October. The blend combines 24% biofuel with a 180 cst VLSFO.

CPC said the move aligns Taiwan’s marine fuel supply with global maritime net-zero targets and the country’s own net-zero transition policy.

Kaohsiung sits on Taiwan’s southwest coast, facing the Taiwan Strait and Bashi Channel.

Fujairah’s fuel oil inventories drawn 29% in August

Fujairah’s fuel oil inventories averaged 29% lower in August than in July, Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) and S&P Global data show.

The UAE port’s fuel oil inventories fell below 4 million bbls after rising for two consecutive months.

Fuel oil imports into Fujairah declined to around 30,000 b/d in August from 51,000 b/d in July, according to cargo tracker Vortexa. At the same time, exports surged by 138,000 b/d to 306,000 b/d, turning Fujairah into a net exporter and contributing to the inventory drawdown.
Saudi Arabia (64%) and Bahrain (35%) accounted for the bulk of Fujairah’s fuel oil imports in August. Singapore (48%) was the largest destination for exports, followed by China (26%) and the US (13%).

Meanwhile, Fujairah’s middle distillate inventories increased 12% above July levels on average.

What moved the bunker market this week?

Every Friday our market intelligence team analyses the developments influencing bunker prices, fuel availability and global shipping. Read the week’s key stories, understand what’s driving the market and what bunker buyers should be watching next.

Download this week’s market update (PDF) (recommended for mobile) »

Sunoco enters ARA bunker market with Verde

Sunoco Marine, a subsidiary of US energy firm Sunoco, has partnered with Dutch bunker supplier Verde Marine Energy to offer bunkering in the ARA and the UK. Sunoco supplies bunker fuel at ports across the US, Canada, the Caribbean and Central America by truck, barge and pipeline, depending on the location.

The companies aim to launch the collaboration in October, with plans to add barges, new products and
supply locations.

Verde began physical biofuel bunker operations in the ARA in June, marking its first B100 delivery with a time-chartered bunker barge. It partnered with biodiesel producer Sunoil Biodiesel and its IJsselland Bio Fuels production facility to source and load the biofuel at the Standic terminal in Dordrecht for the bunker operation.

Zhoushan bunker operations suspended amid typhoons

Four weather systems are currently active across the Northwest Pacific and South China Sea, creating an unusual cluster of storms. Typhoon Saudel formed on 19 August and strengthened into a super typhoon, with landfall expected along the Zhejiang-Fujian coast by Friday.

Narra formed on 21 August and made landfall in Hainan on Tuesday, while Atsani subsequently joined the storm cluster. The repeated weather-related disruptions have suspended bunker operations at Zhoushan’s anchorages this week, further tightening fuel availability. Suppliers have recommended lead times of around 10 days for VLSFO, HSFO and LSMGO.

EU greenlights TotalEnergies and CMA CGM joint venture

The European Commission has approved a joint venture between French energy company TotalEnergies and compatriot shipping firm CMA CGM. The venture, announced in July 2025, aims to expand LNG bunkering in the ARA region. “As part of this new logistics joint venture, a new 20,000 cubic-meter LNG bunker vessel will be positioned in Rotterdam by the end of 2028 and jointly operated,” TotalEnergies said earlier.

TotalEnergies has a global supply network of crude oil, petroleum products, LNG and biofuels. It has existing infrastructure in the ARA hub, including the 18,600-cbm LNG bunker vessel Gas Agility, which has been in operation since 2020. Meanwhile, CMA CGM operates more than 60 LNG-capable vessels and plans to significantly expand its alternative fuel-capable fleet.

Vitol conducts CNSL co-processed VLSFO bunkering

Global bunker supplier Vitol Bunkers and agricultural firm Olam Agri have completed a biobunker operation in Singapore using VLSFO co-processed with cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL). The vessel, Scion Mathilda, received a 247 mt stem at the Port of Singapore, made up of 212 mt of conventional VLSFO and 35 mt of CNSL co-processed VLSFO. The vessel consumed the fuel on a commercial voyage from Caofeidian, China, to Rotterdam, Netherlands, followed by a ballast leg to Barcarena, Brazil, without operational issues.

Vitol supplied the fuel, which was procured by Olam Agri’s shipping division. Vitol said it was the world’s first bio-bunker operation using co-processed VLSFO. “This operation proves that co-processed VLSFO can be delivered and consumed at sea without any compromise to vessel performance,” Vitol Bunkers’ trading manager Sherman
Yeo said.

Petrobras resumes VLSFO sales at the Port of Itaqui

Petrobras has resumed VLSFO bunker sales at the Port of Itaqui after postponing planned maintenance on VLSFO pipelines originally scheduled from 18 August to 7 September. The company has not provided a revised timeline for the maintenance. Meanwhile, maintenance on the LSMGO pipelines is proceeding as planned from 29 July to 9 November, for approximately 103 days. LSMGO bunker sales will remain suspended throughout the period.

Höegh Autoliners orders six more LNG dual-fuel vessels

Norwegian shipping company Höegh Autoliners has ordered six more LNG dual-fuel pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) from China Merchants Heavy for delivery between 2029 and 2031, bringing its total orderbook for the vessel type to 18 ships. It also has options for four additional vessels and slot reservations for another four ships at the yard. If all options are exercised, its LNG dual-fuel fleet could grow to 26 vessels.

Panama bunker sales rebounded in July

Panama’s total bunker sales increased by 11% in July from June, according to preliminary data from the Panama Maritime Authority. HSFO sales rose by around 11% on the month, while total MGO sales increased by about 6%. VLSFO sales climbed by around 13% from June, while LSMGO sales edged up by less than 1%. Total bunker sales averaged about 13,800 mt/day in July, compared with around 12,800 mt/day in June.

VLSFO remained Panama’s top-selling bunker fuel in July, accounting for 65% of total sales, followed by HSFO at 25% and total MGO at 10%.

A total of 629 ships bunkered in Panama’s ports in July, up from 545 ships in June, while the number of operating barges increased from 30 to 32. Bunker demand has eased in Panama compared with recent weeks, while fuel availability remains stable at Balboa and Cristobal, with suppliers recommending lead times of 5-7 days.

What moved the bunker market this week?

Every Friday our market intelligence team analyses the developments influencing bunker prices, fuel availability and global shipping. Read the week’s key stories, understand what’s driving the market and what bunker buyers should be watching next.

Download this week’s market update (PDF) (recommended for mobile) »

Shell expands LNG bunker footprint to Valencia

Bunker supplier Shell has added Spain’s Port of Valencia to its LNG bunker locations following the successful completion of its first LNG stem at the port. Shell carried out the operation just outside the Port of Valencia in July, using the LNG bunker vessel Alice Cosulich to supply an undisclosed amount of LNG to the MSC Sabrina, which was sailing from the Mediterranean to Brazil, according to bunker analytics firm Spotbarge.

In May, the Port Authority of Valencia (APV) granted LNG bunker permits to Shell and Axpo Iberia. The addition of Valencia expands Shell’s LNG bunker network across the Mediterranean. Under the six-year authorisation, the companies will supply LNG to vessels by tanker at the Spanish ports of Valencia, Sagunto and Gandia. Shell operates the world’s largest LNG bunker network, with 16 bunker vessels across 28 locations in 13 countries.

EU greenlights NYK Line’s entry into Avenir LNG

The European Commission has approved Stolt-Nielsen’s sale of a 50% stake in Avenir LNG to Japanese shipping firm Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), clearing the way for a joint venture to expand Avenir’s operations beyond the EU. The Commission said the deal “would not raise competition concerns, given that the joint venture has negligible activities in the European Economic Area.” Avenir supplies LNG and mass-balanced liquefied biomethane (LBM) at ports across the Baltic and Adriatic seas. It operates five LNG bunker vessels and offers shipto- ship, ship-to-truck and ship-to-terminal deliveries.

Shanghai hosts China’s first dual bunker operation

Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) Energy has simultaneously bunkered two vessels with different fuels at the Luhuashan anchorage in the Port of Shanghai. Its bunker vessel Hai Gang Zhi Yuan delivered bio-methanol to CMA CGM’s methanol dual-fuel containership Osmium. The 8,000 mt of fuel was supplied by China’s Shanghai Electric, according to local Chinese media outlets.

At the same time, the bunker tanker Hai Gang Wei Lai delivered an unspecified quantity of LNG to Pacific International Lines’ containership Kota Elan. SIPG said the two operations demonstrated the Port of Shanghai’s capability to supply multiple alternative marine fuels simultaneously and conduct coordinated large-scale bunkering at anchorage.

Corpus Christi advances US nuclear shipping push

The Port of Corpus Christi Authority has signed separate agreements with the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) and Core Power to assess the potential use of nuclear technology in commercial shipping. Under the MARAD agreement, the Texan port will explore small modular reactor (SMR) technology across port microgrids, shore power infrastructure and vessel propulsion. The agreement follows a similar deal with the Port of Long Beach.

Separately, the port authority has partnered with Core Power to assess the port’s readiness to host floating nuclear power plants and receive nuclear-powered commercial ships. The study will examine potential sites, grid connections, regulatory requirements and environmental approvals for floating nuclear power.

Fratelli to expand methanol capable bunker fleet by 2027

Italian shipping firm Fratelli Cosulich is set to take delivery of its two remaining methanol-capable bunker tankers by May 2027. It has received three of five methanol dual-fuel IMO II chemical bunker tankers on order. The remaining vessels, Carlotta Cosulich and Natalia Cosulich, are due in October 2026 and May 2027, respectively. Fratelli has also invested in two LNG bunker tankers

Lauritzen Bulkers launches second methanol-capable newbuild

Danish dry bulk shipping firm Lauritzen Bulkers has launched its second methanol dual-fuel vessel, Bold Bulker, at Tsuneishi Shipbuilding in the Philippines. The 81,000- dwt bulk carrier is due for delivery in January 2027. Lauritzen has not disclosed who will charter the vessel or where it will be deployed. The vessel is the second of three methanol-capable newbuilds ordered from Tsuneishi, with the final vessel due to join the fleet next year.

Singapore’s bio-bunker sales rebounded in July

Singapore’s bio-blended bunker sales rose by 6% in July to 38,000 mt, rebounding after three consecutive months of declines, according to preliminary data from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). Of the total biofuel sales, around 30,000 mt comprised bio-VLSFO – typically a 24% blend ratio in Singapore – while the remaining 8,000 mt was bio-HSFO.

For January-July, total biofuel bunker sales were only 434,000 mt, less than half the 898,000 mt recorded during the same period last year. B100 (100% biofuel) sales were reported for a fourth consecutive month, with around 1,400 mt sold in July, down from 1,500 mt in June.

LNG bunker sales rose by 7% in July to 59,000 mt, while no methanol bunker sales were reported for a fifth consecutive month. No ammonia bunker sales have been recorded so far this year.

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Galveston lines up a second LNG bunker project

Mexican LNG company Énestas will support a liquefaction and bunker facility that US supplier Power LNG plans to build at the Port of Galveston, Texas. Énestas will supply transport and storage equipment for the harbour-side terminal on Pelican Island, allowing deliveries to start by truck while the wider project is built.

Power LNG said in June the plant will open with 400,000 gallons/day (610 mt/day) of capacity and 3 million gallons (11,000 cbm) of storage. Bunkering is due to begin in 2027 and production in December 2028.

It is the second such project at the port. Stabilis Solutions is developing a 350,000-gallon/day (540 mt/day) liquefaction facility due on stream in 2028, alongside a bunker business that has completed 97 LNG deliveries in the port.

Zhoushan bunkering restarts at inner anchorages

Bunker deliveries resumed at Zhoushan’s more sheltered Xiushandong and inner Mazhi anchorages on Wednesday, after a six-day suspension caused by adverse weather from Typhoon Dolphin, a source said.

Operations remained suspended at the outer Tiaozhoumen and Xiazhimen anchorages, and most suppliers were still uncertain when bunkering across Zhoushan would fully resume. The stoppage has tightened supply despite muted demand. Suppliers recommend lead times of about 11 days across all three grades this week, up from around 10 days.

Insurers pull war risk cover in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

Marine insurers including UK P&I, London P&I, Gard and NorthStandard cancelled war risk cover this week for ships insured on fixed-premium terms in parts of the southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, following a similar move by Skuld.

The cancellation takes effect on 16 August and applies to owners, charterers and other optional cover. Mutual P&I cover is unaffected, as is the extra war risks cover that goes with it. Waters within 12 nautical miles of the coast are mostly exempt, but not the Bab el-Mandeb shipping lane, the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coast or the Yemeni coast. London P&I and Skuld will look at buy-back deals to reinstate cover, and Gard plans to extend its existing option to the wider area.

Norway to remain a FuelEU third country until at least 2028

FuelEU Maritime will not take effect in Norway before 1 January 2028, the country’s Ministry of Climate and Environment said on Wednesday.

For Norwegian and Icelandic ports to count as EU ports under the regulation, FuelEU must first be incorporated into the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement and written into Norwegian law. Until that happens, both countries’ ports are treated as third-country ports. That means only half the energy used on voyages between a Norwegian or Icelandic port and an EU port counts towards FuelEU compliance, Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) legal adviser Marte Hustveit Hauge said. Energy used on voyages within Norway, or between Norway and non-EU countries, does not count at all.

The NMA floated a 1 January 2026 start last year before reversing course days later and deferring entry into force to later in 2026 – a timeline that has now slipped again.

TUI Cruises doubles down on LBM in Europe

German cruise operator TUI Cruises will step up its use of liquefied biomethane (LBM) across its European voyages. The dual-fuel cruise ship Mein Schiff Relax runs entirely on LBM in northern Europe through the summer. Its sister ship Mein Schiff Flow has bunkered LBM regularly in Barcelona since May. LBM had cut the company’s emissions by around 26,000 mtCO2e by July, and chief executive Wybcke Meier expects total cuts of 50,000 mtCO2e this year.

First STS LNG bunker delivery in Civitavecchia

Silversea Cruises’ dual-fuel cruise ship Silver Ray took a 750-cbm (335 mt) LNG stem at the Italian port of Civitavecchia on Sunday, in the port’s first ship-to-ship (STS) LNG bunker operation. Bunker suppliers Axpo and Vitol delivered the stem with the chartered LNG bunker vessel Green Pearl. It was the first LNG stem in the port since it adopted a framework in May setting out safety requirements for STS operations.

Spanish bunker sales rose 9% year on year in June

Bunker suppliers in Spanish ports sold 853,000 mt of fuel in June, 9% more than a year earlier, government data showed. That is comfortably above the five-year monthly average of 775,000 mt and the highest monthly total since November 2025.

Algeciras posted the largest gain by volume, up 47,000 mt, or 20%, to 285,000 mt, followed by Tenerife, up 21,000 mt, or 45%, to 68,000 mt. Valencia recorded the largest fall, down 16,000 mt, or 29%, to 40,000 mt, although its first-half volumes were 10% higher than last year.

Algeciras accounted for 33% of national sales in June, ahead of Las Palmas on 25% and Barcelona on 16%.First-half sales edged up 1% to 4.8 million mt. Vigo, Sevilla and Gijón have reported little or no
supply this year after selling normally in 2025. If those are reporting gaps rather than genuine stoppages, the underlying rise was nearer 2%.

Read the weekly bunker market news from last week here.

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A summary of the most important weekly bunker market news and developments, published every Friday.

View this update as a PDF (recommended for mobile) »

Read the weekly bunker market news from last week here.

View this update as a PDF (recommended for mobile) »

A summary of the most important developments in the bunker market, published every Friday.