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Sources: China total bunker demand up 20-30% on year, Zhoushan continues to be top bunkering port

Some bunker suppliers at various ports have even achieved their sales target for the year; the trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down and suppliers are expecting a boom during end of September.

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Screen Shot 2020 09 18 at 3.00.15 PM

The bonded bunker sales volume in China has increased over the past eight months when compared with the same period in 2019 despite the Covid-19 pandemic and volatile international situation, learned Manifold Times.

Insiders with knowledge of the matter revealed most major physical bunker suppliers at Chinese ports experiencing steady sales from January to August, with bunker sales increasing between 20-30% per month when compared to monthly sales in 2019.

Some bunker suppliers at various ports have even achieved their sales target for the year, before August. The trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down and suppliers are expecting a boom at the end of September due to approaching National holidays (Mid-Autumn festival and Chinese National Day) taking place in early October.

Zhoushan port

In Zhoushan, the most important bunker supply port on China’s east coast, the total bunker quantity sold was about 2.8 million metric tonnes from January until August, 13.4% higher than the comparative eight-month period in 2019.

Based on the following chart, with the exception of June where the bunkers sold was lower than in 2019, sales in the remaining seven months showed a steady increase with August being the peak.

Screen Shot 2020 09 18 at 3.00.15 PM

Tianjin port

Other ports in China also reported a boom in their bunker sales. “About 90,000 metric tonnes was sold in August alone,” a local major supplier in Tianjin revealed.

Other Tianjin-based traders also shared that in the last week of August, nearly 55,000 metric tonnes of bonded bunker fuel have been sold for deliveries to approximately 70 vessels arriving in early September 2020.

Xiamen port

A local supplier in Xiamen also shared that sales in 2020 is significantly better than last year. At least 20 – 30 deals have been made per day, the highest level of sales ever recorded, which also often caused deliveries from bunker barges at Xiamen port to be tight.

Factors influencing the increase

The improved bunker sales can be attributed to bunker operation restrictions in Hong Kong, and the marine fuel tax rebate introduced by the Chinese government starting 1 February – which made China’s bunker fuel prices competitive with Singapore.

Overall, the bunkering sectors in neighbouring countries of China have also been affected by Covid-19 and this have resulted in shipowners opting to purchase their fuel in China instead.

An increased post-pandemic activity in China, driven by domestic economic recovery in the food, coal, steel, major bulk imports (items which are transported by containers, tankers and bulkers) have further contributed to the boom in bunker demand at Chinese ports.

Related: Hong Kong: Bunker demand shift to nearby ports after tightening of COVID-19 measures
Related: Argus Media: China to apply bunker fuel tax rebates from 1 February 2020

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 18 September, 2020

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Milestone

China: Yangpu records 27% on year increase in bunkering volumes from Jan to May

Latest bunker supplier at Yangpu port is Hainan Luhai Energy which received a license from the Danzhou Municipal People’s Government in April 2025.

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Yangpu port

The Port of Yangpu located in Hainan Island recorded a 27% on year increase in bonded bunkering volume for the period between January to May 2025 due to local government initiatives, according to Danzhou Municipal People’s Government on 5 July.

During the five-month period, the port supplied 149,400 metric tonnes (mt) of bunker fuel to 288 international vessels, compared to 117,400 mt of marine fuel to 278 ships in the year before.

Explaining the 2025 figures, the government pointed out 145,400 mt of bonded bunker fuel to 275 vessels were delivered by bunkering firms under national licenses, while 4,000 mt of bonded marine fuel were sent by bunkering companies under Hainan licenses.

To date, there are four bunker suppliers operating at Yangpu port. The latest to join is Luhai Energy Technology Development (Hainan) Co., Ltd (陆海能源科技发展(海南)有限公司) which received a license from the Danzhou Municipal People’s Government in April 2025.

“In the future, we will continue to work hard to continuously optimise the bonded oil refuelling service system, increase policy publicity and promotion efforts, attract more bonded oil refuelling companies to settle in Yangpu, and continuously expand the scale of business, and promote the implementation of the bonded oil refuelling policy,” stated Li Leiming, a mid-level employee of the Yangpu Investment Promotion Bureau.

 

Photo credit: Chuanhaozi under Creative Commons Licences
Published: 14 July 2025

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Milestone

Singapore retains ranking as world’s top maritime centre for 12th consecutive year

Finds report jointly published by the Baltic Exchange and China’s Xinhua News Agency.

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Singapore bunker tankers and sky

Singapore on Friday (11 July) said it has retained its ranking as the world’s top maritime centre, marking the 12th consecutive year it has led the Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development (ISCD) Index.

Jointly published by the Baltic Exchange and China’s Xinhua News Agency, the Xinhua-Baltic ISCD Index provides an independent benchmarking of the world’s leading maritime hubs.

It evaluates factors such as cargo throughput, port infrastructure, maritime services (including finance, law and shipbroking), and the overall business environment.

The index is closely monitored by shipping lines, port investors, and maritime service providers to track market competitiveness, and inform investment location and service development decisions.

Singapore retained its top position among 43 maritime cities and regions, underpinned by its consistent performance as one of the world’s busiest transhipment and bunkering hubs, and a well-established ecosystem of professional maritime services and expertise.

In 2024, Singapore handled 41.12 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in container throughput – a record high – and saw total vessel arrival tonnage exceed 3 billion gross tons. The Port of Singapore also remains the world’s largest bunkering port, having supplied 54.92 million tonnes of marine fuel in 2024.

Home to more than 200 international shipping groups and a growing number of maritime technology start-ups, Singapore continues to strengthen its position as a global node for maritime innovation and enterprise.

This growing industry base is also creating new career pathways in areas such as port operations, digital systems management, automation, maritime law, and sustainability – as the sector transforms to meet the needs of a more digital and decarbonised future.

“We thank our industry partners, the research and enterprise community, and our unions who have been instrumental in Singapore’s journey to become a leading international maritime centre and global hub port,” said Ang Wee Keong, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

“We will continue to build on this momentum by innovating and investing in digitalisation, green technologies, and workforce development to strengthen Singapore’s position as a trusted and future-ready international maritime centre.”

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 14 July 2025

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Milestone

“LNG London” marks 1,000 safe LNG bunkering ops in Rotterdam and Antwerp

Milestone is a tribute to the technical expertise and steadfast dedication of LNG London’s team, states Victrol.

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LNG London MT

The LNG London, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel chartered by Shell, owned by LNG Shipping, and operated by Victrol recently completed over 1,000 safe LNG bunkering operations across the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp.

“This landmark achievement underscores LNG London’s unwavering commitment to safety, reliability, and environmental stewardship as LNG rises to prominence as a lower-emission marine fuel compared to conventional fuel oil,” stated Victrol on Friday (11 July) over a LinkedIn update.

“With this milestone, LNG London reaffirms its pioneering role in promoting sustainable, lower-emission bunkering throughout the Amsterdam–Rotterdam–Antwerp (ARA) hub.”

Launched in June 2019, LNG London has a capacity of 3,000 m³, spans 110 m in length, and navigates inland waterways with ease—facilitating efficient LNG supply to both seagoing vessels and barges offshore-energy.

Victrol as the vessel’s operator, emphasises the outstanding performance of the crew and the vessel’s robust design. Built with stringent safety specifications, LNG London strives to maintain high operational standards. This milestone is a tribute to the team’s technical expertise and steadfast dedication.

Building on the good work of LNG London, Shell had also enhanced its bunkering network with the larger Energy Stockholm, an 8,000 m³ bunker vessel, now operating in Antwerp, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge, and Amsterdam.

Related: Europe: ‘LNG London’ bunkering vessel starts operations at Rotterdam
Related: “LNG London” conducts first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation at Rotterdam
Related: Bureau Veritas classifies Europe’s largest inland waterway LNG bunker barge
Related: Europe’s largest LNG bunkering barge on maiden voyage to ARA
Related: Shell takes delivery of Europe’s largest inland LNG bunkering vessel

 

Photo credit: Victrol
Published: 14 July 2025

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