Fujairah Bunker Sales Halve Amid Iran War Disruptions | Mariner News
Fujairah, a pivotal Middle Eastern bunkering hub, experienced a dramatic decline in marine fuel sales in August, with volumes plummeting by 65.3% year-on-year, primarily attributed to the Iran war disrupting shipping flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
Sales for the first eight months of the year also fell sharply, down 57.3% from the previous year, totaling 2.12 million m3. The sustained reduction underscores the significant operational and commercial challenges faced by vessels transiting this critical maritime chokepoint.
August sales reached 225,767 m3 of marine fuel, excluding lubricants. This marked a 2.6% decrease from July’s volume, although it remained above the lows recorded in May and June.
The widespread disruption is compelling shipowners and charterers to re-evaluate routing and bunkering strategies, potentially diverting traffic and demand to alternative hubs outside the immediate conflict zone. This shift places sustained pressure on Fujairah’s competitive position as a leading global bunkering port.
An analysis of fuel types reveals that 380 CST VLSFO sales saw a 4% month-on-month increase to 149,202 m3 in August. However, 380 CST HSFO sales recorded a steeper 17% decline from July, settling at 58,339 m3. HSFO’s share of total August sales also reduced to 25.8%, down from 29% last year, suggesting a potential change in the composition of vessel traffic calling at the port or a redirection of HSFO demand.
With Fujairah’s average VLSFO price rising to $807.5/mt in August, the market continues to grapple with reduced demand and ongoing geopolitical volatility. Volumes so far this year remain consistently below last year’s levels, indicating that the conflict’s impact on shipping activity and bunker demand is a persistent factor.
