Quality risk has gone local. Here’s where it sits.

Our latest biannual report analyses six months of delivered marine fuel quality data, from February to July 2026, grade by grade and port by port. Headline quality looks stable, but the risks behind the numbers, and where they occur, are shifting fast.

Inside the report:

Analysis of HSFO, VLSFO, MGO and ULSFO, biofuel blend performance, ISO 8217 specification trends, and practical buying guidance to help you choose the lower-risk supply chain before the stem is fixed.

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Key findings include:

• Risk has gone local, buying has remained global: Barcelona supplied 1.7% of HSFO samples but 40.5% of all cat fines flags. In the Arabian Gulf ports, VLSFO sediment exceptions ran around fifty times the global rate.
• VLSFO has no sulphur headroom: With VLSFO routinely blended close to the 0.50% limit, just 1 to 3% HSFO carry-over in the delivery chain can push a compliant fuel out of spec.
• Compliance is a floor, not a forecast: Fuel can meet every limit and still cost more after delivery. Distillate densities at some East of Suez ports test around 3% below declaration, worth between $35-45 per tonne, before heating, handling and energy content are counted.

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About the author

Chris Turner, Technical Manager

Chris joined Integr8 Fuels in 2017, spending several years in Singapore before relocating to Dubai. With over 35 years in oil and shipping, he has held roles in laboratory management, physical supply, broking, and trading. More recently, he has focused on technical supervision of exclusive buying and helped develop quality systems for biofuel purchasing, leading to Integr8’s ISCC certification.

An active member of IBIA’s Middle East Regional Board and Technical Working Group, Chris is a regular speaker and panellist at major bunkering conferences worldwide.