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JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (January 2023)

China’s bonded bunker fuel sales dropped further in January, as shipping demand stayed relatively soft and shipowners remained cautious when global economy was still slow to recover.

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Beijing-based commodity market information provider JLC Network Technology Co. recently shared its JLC China Bunker monthly report for January 2023 with Manifold Times through an exclusive arrangement:

Bunker Fuel Demand

China’s bonded bunker fuel sales drop further in Jan

China’s bonded bunker fuel sales dropped further in January, as shipping demand stayed relatively soft and shipowners remained cautious when the global economy was still slow to recover. Meanwhile, some bunkering business at Chinese ports was halted during the Chinese New Year holiday, and the supply of bonded resources continued to tighten in northern regions.

The country tallied about 1.49 million mt of bonded bunker fuel sales in the month, a fall of 2.35% month on month, JLC’s data shows. The sales by Chimbusco rose to 560,000 mt, while those by China ChangJiang Bunker (Sinopec) and Sinopec Zhoushan dropped to 35,000 mt and 580,000 mt respectively. Meanwhile, SinoBunker sold 50,000 mt, stable month on month, and suppliers with regional licenses sold about 269,000 mt, down from 300,000 mt in December 2022.

China exported 1.20 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in the last month of 2022, a decline of 7.21% month on month and 13.42% year on year, with reference to data from the General Administration of Customs of PRC (GACC).

Among these, heavy bunker fuel exports were 1.13 million mt, accounting for 94.19%, while MGO exports were 69,800 mt, making up 5.81%.

The exports by suppliers with national licenses were 910,300 mt, accounting for 75.78% of the total exports, with Sinopec Fuel Oil, Chimbusco, SinoBunker and China ChangJiang Bunker (Sinopec) taking 404,000 mt, 444,900 mt, 49,800 mt and 11,600 mt respectively. At the same time, companies with regional licenses exported about 291,000 mt, making up 24.22%.

Chinese refiners cut their bonded bunker fuel exports, as demand in the shipping market remained weak when the negative impact of the epidemic lingered. Meanwhile, most refineries cut their LSFO production when they found fewer margins amid a fall in China’s bonded bunker fuel prices.

Given an outlook of recovering demand, China is expected to expand its bonded bunker fuel exports in 2023. Also, the country is likely to hike its LSFO production this year, making efforts to expand its bonded bunker fuel market.

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Domestic bunker fuel demand continues to shrink in Jan

Domestic-trade bunker fuel demand continued to shrink in the first month of this year, mainly because of the public holiday for the Chinese New Year. The shipping capacity was not fully back online yet in late January, after the holiday.

Domestic demand for heavy bunker fuel shrank by 30,000 mt or 8.82% to 310,000 mt in January, and that for light bunker fuel decreased by 10,000 mt or 8.30% to 110,000 mt. Purchases for MGO were still based on rigid demand.

Meanwhile, domestic blenders kept their inventories low.

Bunker Fuel Supply

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports plunge in Dec 2022

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports plunged on month in December 2022, due to a decrease in Chinese buyers’ import interest coupled with a relatively high base in the previous month.

China tallied 414,300 mt of bonded bunker fuel imports in the month, tumbling by 34.24% month on month, JLC estimated, with reference to data from the General Administration of Customs of PRC 

(GACC).

Malaysia still led all suppliers in December, exporting 288,400 mt of bonded bunker fuel to China, accounting for 70% of China’s total imports. Meanwhile, South Korea and Singapore ranked second and third with 80,690 mt and 39,000 mt, occupying 21% and 9% respectively.

Domestic buyers sharply reduced their bonded bunker fuel imports, amid relatively steep international bunker fuel prices and high freight rates. Prices of China’s bonded bunker fuel with the maximum sulfur content at 0.5% averaged $605/mt in the month, a drop of 11.68% from a month earlier, more significant than a fall of 9.20% in Singapore’s prices. Domestic bunker fuel prices were still relatively competitive than imported ones.

Also underlying the plunge in the imports was a relatively high level in November. Chinese buyers had hiked their bonded bunker fuel imports to a 12-month high in November, and they lacked enthusiasm to further expand imports in December, with the year-end drawing near.

On a year-on-year comparison, however, the imports gained 2.02% in December.

The country imported an accumulation of 5.11 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in 2022, plummeting by 38.88% year on year, accelerating from a slump of 30.91% in 2021. The plunge was mainly due to booming domestic LSFO production. China produced about 15.90 million mt of LSFO last year, soaring 41.90% year on year, JLC’s data indicates.

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Domestic-trade blended bunker fuel supply extends drops in Jan

Domestic supply of blended heavy bunker fuel extended drops in January, as blendstock supply tightened and cargo transportation was not so smooth amid the Chinese New Year holiday. Chinese blenders supplied about 320,000 mt of heavy bunker fuel in the month, a contraction of 50,000 mt or 13.51% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

The supply of blended marine gas oil (MGO) showed a similar trend. Less diesel flowed into the bunker fuel market, because domestic bunker fuel demand was relatively soft. Blenders supplied about 140,000 mt of MGO in the month, diving by 30,000 mt or 17.65% from a month earlier.

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Bunker Prices, Profits

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Editor
Yvette Luo
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Sales (Beijing)
Tony Tang
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Sales (Singapore)
Ginny Teo
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JLC Network Technology Co., Ltd is recognized as the leading information provider in China. We specialized in providing the transparent, high-value, authoritative market intelligence and professional analysis in commodity market. Our expertise covers oil, gas, coal, chemical, plastic, rubber, fertilizer and metal industry, etc.

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report is published by JLC Network Technology Co., Ltd every month on China bunker market, demand, supply, margin, freight index, forecast and so on. The report provides full-scale & concise insight into China bunker oil market.

All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be photocopied, reproduced, retransmitted, put into a computer system or otherwise redistributed without prior authorization from JLC.

Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (December 2022)
Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (November 2022)
Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (October 2022)
Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (September 2022)
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Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (July 2022)
Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (June 2022)
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Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (April 2022)
Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (March 2022)
Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (February 2022)
Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (January 2022)

Note: China-based commodity market information provider JLC Technology has been providing Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times China bunker volume data since 2020. Data from that period is available here.

Photo credit: JLC Network Technology
Published: 14 February, 2023

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Winding up

Singapore: High Court to hear Norvic Shipping Asia winding up application on 31 July

Application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to Government Gazette notice.

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RESIZED singapore high court

An application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to a Tuesday (21 July) notice on the Government Gazette.

It noted the winding up application is directed to be heard before the Judge sitting in the General Division of the High Court at 10am on 31 July.

Any creditor or contributory of the company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the winding up application may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose.

A copy of the winding up application will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the company requiring the copy of the winding up application by the solicitors of the applicant’s, Oon & Bazul LLC, on payment of the regulated charge for the same.

The Applicant’s address is Hiridostraat 5, Gebouw Prismatrium, 1101CW Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The Applicant’s solicitors are Oon & Bazul LLC of 103 Penang Rd, #04-04/05/06 Singapore 238467. 

Queries on the winding up application may be directed to the following email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Methanol

World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to “Arctic Tern” via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel “M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan”.

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World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Marine fuel provider World Fuel on Tuesday (21 July) said it successfully completed the first green methanol bunkering of M/V Arctic Tern, with EUKOR Car Carriers and SIPG Energy at the Port of Shanghai. 

Arctic Tern is the first vessel in the new Shaper Class series of car carriers. 

The operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to Arctic Tern via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, the largest vessel of its kind in operation. 

The bunkering operation was carried out at Haitong Terminal, Waigaoqiao Port Area, Shanghai Port, with cargo handling operations conducted simultaneously during bunkering.

This marks EUKOR Car Carriers’ first green methanol operation and the first time Arctic Tern has bunkered methanol since its delivery on 9 July. The operation marked the first bunkering at Shanghai Port of green methanol produced locally in Shanghai for an international PCTC operator. 

It also demonstrated the city’s integrated green methanol value chain, spanning local production, storage and bunkering, and established a replicable “Shanghai Model” for green methanol supply.

World Fuel arranged the supply and delivery of the fuel on behalf of EUKOR Car Carriers, working with SIPG Energy as the physical supplier at the Port of Shanghai.

The green methanol supplied was produced from municipal solid waste, ISCC-EU certified, and had a carbon intensity value below 25 gCO₂e/MJ.

Arctic Tern is the first of fourteen Shaper Class vessels ordered by Wallenius Wilhelmsen. With a capacity of 9,300 car equivalent units and methanol dual-fuel capability, the vessel will be operated by EUKOR Car Carriers, jointly owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Hyundai Motor Group. Following her first green methanol bunkering, Arctic Tern will continue her maiden voyage from Asia to Europe.

Xavier Leroi, COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen and CEO of EUKOR Car Carriers, said: “Completing Arctic Tern’s first green methanol bunkering shortly after delivery is a significant milestone towards our decarbonisation ambition for both EUKOR Car Carriers and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. It demonstrates how investments in next-generation vessel technology and fuel flexibility are being translated into real-world operations. 

“This achievement reflects the strong collaboration between all parties involved. Together, we have shown how partnerships across the maritime value chain can help make lower-emission fuels available and operationally viable at scale.”

Mark Tamsitt, SVP Global Marine Sales at World Fuel, said, “The first bunkering event with a new fuel is a significant moment for any shipowner, and our role is to make it as seamless as possible. By connecting EUKOR Car Carriers with SIPG Energy’s proven green methanol capability at the Port of Shanghai, we were able to deliver on reliable supply, fuel quality, and safe processes. As more of our customers bring methanol dual-fuel tonnage into service, we are committed to being the partner that makes these kinds of operations routine.”

Mr. Zhang Da, General Manager of SIPG Energy, said, “Welcoming Arctic Tern to the Port of Shanghai for her first green methanol bunkering demonstrates the strength and maturity of our supply capability. Building on our well-established methanol ship-to-ship bunkering services for container vessels, we have already extended such services to pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs). This bunkering sets a new record for the largest single SIMOPs green methanol bunkering for PCTCs in China, marking another step in building Shanghai’s position as a global green energy hub for international shipping.”

This operation follows Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s announcement on 9 July that Arctic Tern would complete her first methanol bunkering shortly after delivery. The vessel entered service on routes between Asia and Europe immediately following handover from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing.

 

Photo credit: World Fuel
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Ammonia

HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

HPA says the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

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HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and integrated energy company MB Energy on Tuesday (21 July) said they have completed a comprehensive risk analysis and developed a dedicated safety concept for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering.

MB Energy said the analysis lays the groundwork for the safe introduction of ammonia as a future marine fuel.

“With our planned ammonia import terminal in Hamburg-Blumensand, MB Energy intends to provide the reliable land side supply infrastructure needed to support this transition across northern German ports,” it said in a social media post. 

Mabanaft Group was renamed to MB Energy last year and merged over 50 existing brands under one identity. 

Separately, HPA said the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

“The focus is in particular on container ships, cruise ships as well as RoRo and ConRo (Container/RoRo) ships,” it said. 

“We expect ammonia to establish itself as an alternative marine marine fuel in the coming years. With our preparatory work, we are already creating the conditions to welcome the first ammonia-powered ships in Hamburg and to bunker them safely.:

HPA added that the import terminal for ammonia planned by MB Energy from 2029 will make a decisive contribution to ensuring the reliable availability of ammonia as a bunker fuel in northern German ports in the long term. 

“The use of an ammonia bunker barge is considered a possible addition to the landside infrastructure to enable ship bunkering in the port and beyond in the future,” it said.

Related: Mabanaft Group renames as MB Energy, merging over 50 brands under one identity

 

Photo credit: Hamburg Port Authority
Published: 22 July, 2026

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