Events

PIL’s new LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elan” makes maiden call in Singapore

“Kota Elan” is currently operating on PIL’s East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route that connects Asia with South America and is now on its way to Brazil.

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5 hours ago

September 11, 2026

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PIL’s new LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elan” makes maiden call in Singapore

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd (PIL) on Thursday (10 September) said its newest 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel Kota Elan made its maiden call in Singapore on 4 September.

In a social media post, PIL said a ceremony was held on board the vessel where representatives from PSA Singapore presented a commemorative plaque to the Master of Kota Elan, Captain Thanabalan Govindaraju, marking its inaugural call at one of the world’s busiest and most connected ports.

The company said Kota Elan is currently operating on PIL’s East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route that connects Asia with South America.

The vessel is now on its way to Brazil, before calling at Uruguay and Argentina, and then finally returning to Asia.

“As one of the latest additions to our growing fleet of greener vessels, Kota Elan reflects PIL’s commitment to building a more sustainable future for shipping through cleaner and more efficient operations,” the company said.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 11 September, 2026

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Bunker Fuel

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (August 2026)

China sold 1.61 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in August, with the daily sales at 51,974 mt, down by 9.62% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

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4 hours ago

September 11, 2026

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

Bunker Fuel Demand

China’s bonded bunker fuel sales decline in August

China sold 1.61 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in August, with the daily sales at 51,974 mt, down by 9.62% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Typhoons continued in many regions in August, and some ports in East China even suspended bunkering temporarily.

Meanwhile, bonded bunker fuel supply at some domestic ports remained tight, which also dragged down the sales.

Shipowners were still cautious about bunkering as bonded bunker fuel prices remained on the rise.

Regarding the sales by supplier, the sales by Chimbusco, Sinopec (Zhoushan), SinoBunker, and China Changjiang Bunker (Sinopec) respectively settled at 315,000 mt, 620,000 mt, 57,000 mt, and 5,000 mt in the month, while those by suppliers with regional bunkering licenses settled at 614,200 mt.

China’s LSFO output drops in August

Chinese refiners produced about 1.12 million mt of low-sulfur fuel oil (LSFO) in August, with the daily output at 36,258 mt, a cut of 12.87% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Specifically, Sinopec’s LSFO output slipped in the month, as refineries were more inclined to produce gasoline and diesel when cracking spreads of these two products increased.

Meanwhile, certain refineries were still under maintenance, which also capped the overall output.

PetroChina lowered its refineries’ LSFO production plans due to tightening export quotas.

By contrast, CNOOC recorded an increase in its output, with T aizhou Petrochemical resuming production.

Zhoushan Petrochemical did not produce any LSFO in the month.

ZPC and Sinochem did not produce any LSFO in the month, but the latter produced and exported 10,000 mt of marine gas oil (MGO).

Screenshot 2026 09 11 at 1.38.01 PM

Screenshot 2026 09 11 at 1.38.09 PM

Domestic-trade bunker fuel demand weakens in August

Domestic-trade bunker fuel demand continued to weaken in August, as inland and coastal shipping remained seasonally tepid and port operations in East China were hindered by severe weather.

Domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel demand settled at 270,000 mt in the month, with the daily demand at 8,710 mt, down by 10.00% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

In the meantime, domestic-trade light bunker fuel demand fell to 120,000 mt, with the daily volume at 3,871 mt, down by 14.29% from the prior month, the data shows. Downstream buying interest was depressed by high MGO prices.

Bunker Fuel Supply

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports increase in July

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports increased in July, as some bonded distributors resumed imports of LSFO after a three-month suspension.

The country imported 530,400 mt of bonded bunker fuel in the month, a modest boost of 2.93% month on month, calculations show, based on the GACC data.

Bonded bunker suppliers imported some LSFO to meet demand when domestic production retreated.

In addition, they increased purchases of imported high-sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) in June when the conflict between the U.S. and Iran eased, leading to a rise in the arrivals for July.

The arrivals of imported MGO also grew in July.

On a year-on-year comparison, however, China’s bonded bunker fuel imports plunged by 17.54% in July.

Regarding the imports by source, Russia remained the largest supplier by exporting 234,600 mt of bonded bunker fuel to China, accounting for 44.23% of the latter’s total imports. Singapore became the second largest supplier with 153,800 mt, accounting for 29.00%, while South Korea slipped to the third place with 81,100 mt, accounting for 15.30%. Japan ranked fourth with 60,800 mt, accounting for 11.47%.

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports totaled 3.91 million mt in the first seven months of this year, an increase of 1.68% from the same period of time in 2025, calculations also indicate.

Screenshot 2026 09 11 at 1.38.32 PM

Domestic-trade bunker fuel supply tightens in August

Chinese blenders supplied 250,000 mt of domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel in August, with the daily supply at 8,065 mt, down by 7.41% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Despite some unit restarts, blendstock supply was still relatively tight, especially low-sulfur residual oil supply .

Meanwhile, blenders in North China showed lower blending interest amid stricter tax inspections, and they maintained low inventories of consumption-tax-included bunker fuel.

Domestic-trade MGO supply settled at 150,000 mt in August, with the daily supply at 4,839 mt, down by 11.76% month on month, the data shows. Refineries’ production enthusiasm was dampened by high feedstock costs and tight feedstock supply.

Screenshot 2026 09 11 at 1.38.47 PM

Bunker Prices, Profits

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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: 11 September, 2026

Ammonia

Amogy and LOTTE Fine Chemical to explore ammonia bunkering in South Korea

Under a MoU, both will explore supplying ammonia to vessels equipped with Amogy’s Ammonia-to-Power technology, leveraging LFC’s ammonia terminal at Ulsan Port and ship-bunkering capabilities.

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5 hours ago

September 11, 2026

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Amogy, LOTTE Fine Chemical to explore ammonia bunkering in South Korea

Ammonia-to-power solutions provider Amogy and LOTTE Fine Chemical Co Ltd (LFC) on Thursday (10 September) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly advance ammonia-to-hydrogen and ammonia-to-power solutions in South Korea.

Under the MoU, Amogy and LFC will explore collaboration across three priority areas that combine LFC’s ammonia supply and infrastructure capabilities with Amogy’s downstream ammonia cracking and power generation technology.

In hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, LFC would supply green ammonia through its overseas procurement and domestic infrastructure, with Amogy’s ammonia cracking technology converting the ammonia into high-purity hydrogen on-site for use at hydrogen refueling stations.

For distributed ammonia-to-power generation at commercial and community-scale sites, LFC would provide ammonia supply, storage, and logistics, while Amogy would provide its Ammonia-to-Power generation modules, including fuel cell or internal combustion engine configurations.

In marine ammonia bunkering, the companies would explore supplying ammonia to vessels equipped with Amogy’s Ammonia-to-Power technology, leveraging LFC’s ammonia terminal at Ulsan Port and ship-bunkering capabilities.

“As Korea continues to build out its clean ammonia and hydrogen infrastructure, partnerships that connect upstream supply with downstream technology are essential to accelerating deployment,” said Seonghoon Woo, CEO of Amogy.

“LOTTE Fine Chemical’s ammonia infrastructure, paired with our ammonia-to-hydrogen and ammonia-to-power technology, gives us a strong foundation to advance hydrogen refuelling, distributed power, and marine applications across the region.”

“LFC has built the infrastructure to import, store, and supply ammonia safely and at scale, including the world’s first ship-bunkering supply of ammonia,” said Suk Min Hwang, Vice President of Ammonia Business Division at LOTTE Fine Chemical.

“This collaboration with Amogy allows us to extend that infrastructure into new downstream applications, supporting Korea’s transition to a clean ammonia and hydrogen economy.”

LFC has achieved the world’s first commercial import of green ammonia in addition to the world’s first domestic ship-bunkering supply using green ammonia.

Amogy’s proprietary ammonia cracking technology enables the efficient conversion of ammonia into hydrogen, supporting both high-purity hydrogen production and ammonia-to-power generation across stationary, distributed, and marine applications.

Building on the MoU, Amogy and LFC will continue joint evaluation of collaboration opportunities across hydrogen refuelling, distributed power, and marine ammonia bunkering, with further details on project scope and timing to be finalised for execution.

Photo credit: Amogy
Published: 11 September, 2026

Incident

IBIA condemns attacks on shipping after latest incident hits bunkering community

IBIA’s Board calls on governments and the international community to take decisive action to prevent further loss of life, protect freedom of navigation, safeguard global trade and uphold international law.

Published

5 hours ago

September 11, 2026

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The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) on Thursday (10 September) strongly condemned attacks against commercial shipping, following recent incidents affecting commercial shipping, including within the bunkering community in the last 24 hours.

IBIA said the attacks have resulted in the tragic loss of seafarers’ lives and left others injured or missing.

Yesterday, Manifold Times reported marine fuels supplier Peninsula confirming that its bunker tanker Hercules Star was involved in an incident whilst at anchorage off Dubai. The company also confirmed one fatality and one member of crew missing, with a specialist team working to locate them.

The association said it stands with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the wider maritime community in calling for greater protection of seafarers and an immediate end to attacks on merchant vessels.

“On behalf of its Global Board and Secretariat, IBIA expresses its deepest sorrow for all those affected and extends its heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the victims,” IBIA said.

“These incidents are a tragic reminder that innocent seafarers continue to bear the human cost of geopolitical conflicts. Seafarers are civilians carrying out an essential service to the global economy and should never become victims of violence.”

IBIA’s Board called on governments and the international community to take decisive action to prevent further loss of life, protect freedom of navigation, safeguard global trade and uphold international law.

Alexander Prokopakis, Executive Director of IBIA, said: “Too often, seafarers become the forgotten victims of geopolitical conflicts in which they play no part.

“I fully agree with IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez that attacks on innocent seafarers and civilian shipping are totally unacceptable. The men and women serving at sea are not involved in these disputes. They are delivering energy, food and essential goods that keep economies and societies functioning.

“Seafarers deserve protection, respect and the ability to do their jobs without becoming targets.”

Photo credit: International Bunker Industry Association
Published: 11 September, 2026