Bunker Fuel

JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (January 2026)

China sold roughly 1.82 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in January 2026, with the daily sales at 58,587 mt, up by 0.04% month on month and 10.95% year on year, JLC’s data shows.

Published

5 months ago

February 12, 2026

Admin

JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (January 2026) Highlights

Beijing-based commodity market information provider JLC Network Technology Co. recently shared its JLC China Bunker monthly report for January 2026 with Manifold Times through an exclusive arrangement:

Bunker Fuel Demand

China’s bonded bunker fuel sales inch up in January

China sold roughly 1.82 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in January 2026, with the daily sales at 58,587 mt, up by 0.04% month on month and 10.95% year on year, JLC’s data shows.

The global shipping industry performed well in January, as shipowners began to replenish stocks for the Spring Festival and some new ships came into use.

Regarding the sales by supplier, the sales by Chimbusco, Sinopec (Zhoushan), SinoBunker, and China Changjiang Bunker (Sinopec) respectively settled at 500,000 mt, 625,000 mt, 50,000 mt, and 15,000 mt in the month, while those by suppliers with regional bunkering licenses settled at 626,200 mt.

China’s LSFO output rebounds slightly in January 2026

China’s LSFO output rebounded in January 2026, as PetroChina raised its refineries’ production amid new export quotas.

Chinese refiners produced 825,000 mt of LSFO in the month, with the daily output at 26,613 mt, up by 0.98% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

PetroChina’s LSFO output grew in the month, as several refineries, including Jinzhou Petrochemical and Jinxi Petrochemical, boosted their production after obtaining new export quotas. However, LSFO production by Dalian Petrochemical, Liaoyang Petrochemical, Gaofu Refinery , Sichuan Petrochemical, and Guangdong Petrochemical remained suspended.

By contrast, Sinopec’s LSFO output declined in the month, as Zhenhai Refining and Chemical, Shanghai Petrochemical, and Shanghai Gaoqiao Petrochemical suspended their production. Despite a month-on-month drop, the output of Qingdao Petrochemical and Shengli Oilfield was still relatively high.

CNOOC also recorded a slip in its LSFO production, with Zhongjie Petrochemical and Zhoushan Petrochemical suspending production. However, T aizhou Petrochemical resumed production, and Huizhou Refinery raised its output.

ZPC and Sinochem did not produce any LSFO in January, and the latter did not export any LSFO amid maintenance.

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Screenshot 2026 02 12 at 12.38.49 PM

Domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel demand grows in January

Domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel demand grew in January, mainly because of pre-holiday restocking.

The demand settled at 360,000 mt in January, an increase of 10,000 mt or 2.86% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

However, the demand growth was relatively modest, as the operation of some ports was hindered by strong winds and snow in early January.

Domestic-trade light bunker fuel demand stood at 150,000 mt in the month, unchanged from a month earlier, the data indicates. MGO demand was still seasonally tepid.

Bunker Fuel Supply

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports hit 12-month high in Dec 2025

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports hit a 12-month high in December 2025, mainly due to tightening supply of LSFO in the country.

Chinese bunker suppliers imported 848,300 mt of bonded bunker fuel in the month, rising by 5.25% month on month, JLC’s calculations show, based on the GACC data. The imports reached the highest level since December 2024.

Bonded distributors boosted their LSFO imports to meet bunkering demand when domestic production plunged rapidly amid export quota tightness. Meanwhile, their imports of MGO increased slightly.

In addition, the arrivals of HSFO stayed relatively high in the month, as HSFO bunkering still had economic benefits.

Regarding the imports by source, Singapore ranked first among all suppliers with 301,800 mt, accounting for 35.58% of China’s total imports. Malaysia came second with 195,900 mt, accounting for 23.09%, while South Korea ranked third with 170,400 mt, taking 20.09%. Russia ranked fourth with 164,500 mt, occupying 19.39%, followed by Japan, with 15,700 mt, accounting for 1.85%.

On a year-on-year comparison, however, China’s bonded bunker fuel imports tumbled by 22.49% in December 2025, calculations show. The imports exceeded 1 million mt and hit a 4-year high in December 2024.

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports totaled 7.05 million mt in 2025, soaring by 16.76% from the prior year, calculations also indicate.

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Domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel supply rallies in January

Domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel supply rallied in January 2026, as the availability of low-sulfur residual oil increased and downstream buying interest grew amid the approach of the Chinese New Year holiday.

Chinese blenders supplied about 360,000 mt of domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel in the month, a boost of 20,000 mt or 5.88% from the previous month, JLC’s data shows.

Domestic-trade MGO supply settled at 180,000 mt in January, still stable month on month, the data shows.

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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 recognised as the leading information provider in China. We specialise 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.

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 earlier periods are available here.

Photo credit: JLC Network Technology
Published: 12 February, 2026

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Biofuel

South Korea: S-Oil launches B30-VLSFO bio bunker fuel supply

Company says it has established an integrated operating system in the Ulsan region covering the entire value chain, from feedstock procurement and blending to supply.

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July 23, 2026

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South Korea: S-Oil launches B30-VLSFO bio bunker fuel supply

South Korean petroleum and refining company S-Oil on Wednesday (22 July) said it has started supplying B30 very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), as the company seeks to support shipping’s decarbonisation efforts and growing demand for lower-carbon bunker fuels.

The company said its B30 VLSFO contains 30% sustainable biofuel blended with conventional VLSFO and can be used without requiring modifications to existing vessels, enabling shipowners to comply more readily with emissions regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Union (EU).

S-Oil said it has established an integrated operating system in the Ulsan region covering the entire value chain, from feedstock procurement and blending to supply. The system combines VLSFO produced at its Onsan refinery with biofuel production facilities and storage infrastructure in the Ulsan region, allowing the entire process to be carried out within a single logistics hub.

According to the company, the integrated supply chain reduces transportation requirements during production while improving supply efficiency and reliability.

S-Oil also highlighted Ulsan Port as a strategic location for marine biofuel supply, noting the port has strong demand for bio-bunker fuels, particularly from car carriers, enabling prompt and stable deliveries to key customers.

An S-Oil official stated: “In the bio-marine fuel market, not only product quality but also securing a stable supply of raw materials and an efficient supply system are important competitive advantages.

“Based on our existing bunkering business capabilities and the excellent supply infrastructure in the Onsan area, we plan to supply stable and competitive low-carbon fuel.”

Photo credit: S-Oil
Published: 23 July, 2026

Bunker Fuel

Panama bunker fuel sales drops by 10.7% on year in June 2026

Total bunker sales at Panama was 385,100 metric tonnes (mt) in June 2026, compared to sales of 431,147 mt during the similar period in 2025.

Published

33 minutes ago

July 23, 2026

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Bunker fuel sales at Panama dropped by 11% in June 2026, according to the latest data from La Autoridad Maritima de Panama, also known as the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA).

Total bunker sales at Panama was 385,100 metric tonnes (mt) in June 2026, compared to sales of 431,147 mt during the similar period in 2025.

In June 2026, the Pacific side of Panama posted bunker sales of 311,400 mt; 185,483 mt of VLSFO, 94,997 mt of RMG 380, 2,722 mt for marine gas oil (MGO), and 28,198 mt of low sulphur marine gas oil (LSMGO) were delivered.

The similar region saw total marine sales of 349,996 mt a year before in June; with VLSFO sales at 206,144 mt, RMG 380 sales at 109,432 mt, MGO sales at 3,043 mt, and 31,377 mt of LSMGO being sold.

Panama’s Atlantic side, meanwhile, recorded total bunker fuel sales of 73,700 during June 2026; the figure comprised 62,169 mt of VLSFO, 382 mt of RMG 380, 3,039 mt of MGO, and 8,110 mt of LSMGO.

It saw total sales of 81,151 mt in June a year before; with VLSFO sales of 60,932 mt, RMG 380 sales of 8,335 mt, 2,935 mt of MGO, and LSMGO sales of 8,949 mt.

Photo credit: jhernandezb05 from Pixabay
Published: 23 July, 2026

Bunker Fuel

Antwerp-Bruges biofuel bunker sales drops 36% on year in Q2 2026, LNG down 13.4%

Biofuel recorded 26,833 mt in Q2 2026 with 41,939 mt recorded in the same period the year before while port data showed 76,513 mt of LNG being delivered in Q2 2026, down from 88,328 mt.

Published

36 minutes ago

July 23, 2026

Admin

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges recently published bunker fuel sales data for the second quarter (Q2) of 2026.

Total bunker sales at the port was 2.05 million metric tonnes (mt) in Q2 2026, compared to sales of 1.99 million mt (+3%) during the similar period in 2025.

Deliveries of ultra low sulphur fuel oil, very low sulphur fuel oil, high sulphur fuel oil and marine gas oil in Q2 2026 (against on year) recorded respectively 164,987 mt (+43.6% from 114,917 mt), 537,926 mt (+12.8% from 476,746 mt), 659,182 mt (+11.6% from 590,544 mt) and 366,329 (-15.7% from 434,766 mt).

Biofuel recorded 26,833 mt in Q2 2026 with 41,939 mt (-36%) recorded in the same period the year before.

Port data showed 76,513 mt of liquefied natural gas (LNG) being delivered as a marine fuel in Q2 2026, down by 13.4% from 88,328 mt in Q2 2025. Meanwhile, there has been no deliveries of methanol at the port for the year so far.

Photo credit: Port of Antwerp-Bruges
Published: 23 July, 2026