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.

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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.