Beijing-based commodity market information provider JLC Network Technology Co. recently shared its JLC China Bunker monthly report for August 2025 with Manifold Times through an exclusive arrangement:

Bunker Fuel Demand

China’s bonded bunker fuel sales increase in August

China’s bonded bunker fuel sales increased in August, driven up by more active export and improved weather conditions in East and South China.

The country sold about 1.77 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in the month, with the daily sales rising by 4.07% month on month to 57,045 mt, JLC’s data shows.

China’s export showed relatively strong resilience in August, providing some support to the shipping market.

Meanwhile, the negative impact from bad weather on ports in East and South China faded, which also pushed up the country’s bonded bunker fuel sales.

The sales by Chimbusco, Sinopec (Zhoushan), SinoBunker and China Changjiang Bunker (Sinopec) respectively settled at 470,000 mt, 550,000 mt, 45,000 mt and 20,000 mt in the month, while those by suppliers with regional bunkering licenses settled at 683,400 mt.

China’s LSFO output rebounds in August

China’s low-sulfur fuel oil (LSFO) output rebounded in August, because of less unit maintenance.

Chinese refiners produced 1.10 million mt of LSFO in the month, with the daily output at 35,484 mt, up by 7.84% from the previous month, JLC’s data shows.

Specifically, Sinopec saw a rise in its LSFO output in the month, as Jinling Petrochemical resumed production after maintenance and Qingdao Petrochemical boosted its output to a new high, though its Shengli Oilfield was still under maintenance.

PetroChina’s LSFO output also increased in August. The company’s Liaohe Petrochemical, Jinzhou Petrochemical and Dagang Petrochemical ramped up their production, while other refineries maintained largely stable production.

CNOOC’s LSFO production did not change much in the month, with the output of Zhongjie Petrochemical, Zhoushan Petrochemical and Huizhou Petrochemical stable month on month.

ZPC and Sinochem did not produce any LSFO in August, but the latter exported about 20,000 mt of MGO.

On a year-on-year comparison, however, China’s LSFO output declined by 4.76% in August.

Sinopec has switched quotas on 700,000 mt of LSFO exports to clean oil products (gasoline, diesel and jet fuel) exports, and PetroChina has transferred quotas on 200,000 mt of LSFO exports to clean oil product exports, according to industry sources. By contrast, CNOOC has been heard to transfer quotas on 700,000 mt from clean oil products to LSFO.

Domestic-trade bunker fuel demand recovers in August

Domestic-trade bunker fuel demand recovered in August, thanks to the end of fishing moratorium and increasing restocking.

Domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel demand came in at 360,000 mt in the month, growing by 30,000 mt or 9.09% from July , JLC’s data shows. In the meantime, domestic-trade light bunker fuel demand stood at 155,000 mt, an increase of 15,000 mt or 10.71% month on month.

Demand for bunker fuel grew in mid-to-late August as the fishing moratorium in most of China’s sea areas came to an end. In addition, some shipowners increased their purchases of bunker fuel to replenish their inventories ahead of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War on September 3.

Bunker Fuel Supply

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports rally in July

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports rallied in July , mainly because of increasing demand for bonded high-sulfur fuel oil (HSFO).

Chinese bunker suppliers imported 643,200 mt of bonded bunker fuel in the month, leaping by 17.95% month on month and 40.16% year on year, JLC’s calculations show, based on data from the General Administration of Customs of PRC (GACC).

Bonded distributors boosted their HSFO imports amid growing demand while slashing LSFO imports. At the same time, the imports of marine gas oil (MGO) were largely stable.

Malaysia and Singapore were still the two largest suppliers to China in July, shipping 212,700 mt and 206,700 mt of bonded bunker fuel to China, accounting for 33.07% and 32.14% of China’s total imports, respectively. Russia ranked third with 151,300 mt, occupying 23.52%, followed by South Korea with 72,500 mt, making up 11.27%.

China tallied a total of 3.85 million mt of bonded bunker fuel imports in the first seven months of 2025, soaring by 57.92% from the same months in 2024, the calculations also show.

Domestic-trade bunker fuel supply increases in August

Domestic-trade bunker fuel supply increased in August, mainly because of growing availability of low-sulfur residual oil and shale oil.

Chinese blenders supplied about 380,000 mt of domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel in the month, up by 20,000 mt or 5.56% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Supply of low-sulfur residual oil and shale oil increased moderately , prompting blenders to boost their bunker fuel production. Meanwhile, some blenders in North China delivered their cargoes ahead of schedule due to the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in early September, which also pushed up the overall bunker fuel supply.

Domestic-trade light bunker fuel supply rose to 180,000 mt in August, up by 10,000 mt or 5.88% from the previous month, the data indicates. Independent refineries continued to raise their operating rates amid unit restarts.

Bunker Prices, Profits

Editor
Yvette Luo
+86-020-38834382
[email protected]

Sales (Beijing)
Tony Tang
+86-10-84428863
[email protected]

Sales (Singapore)
Ginny Teo
+65-31571254
[email protected]
[email protected]

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.

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 Fuel Market Monthly Report (July 2025)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (June 2025)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (May 2025)
Related: [Updated 15 May] JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (April 2025)
Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (February 2025)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (January 2025)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (December 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (November 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (October 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (September 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (August 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (July 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (June 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (May 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (April 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (March 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (February 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (January 2024)

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: 11 September, 2025