LNG Bunkering Demand to Double, Network Expansion Critical | Mariner News

LNG bunkering demand is projected to double within the next two to three years, driven by a surge in new dual-fuel vessel deliveries, with over 400 such ships expected online next year. This rapid expansion shifts the primary challenge from the availability of LNG molecules to the development of an agile bunkering barge network capable of serving a wider array of secondary ports beyond established hubs like Rotterdam, Shanghai, and Singapore.

The global LNG market, anticipated to be between 400 million and 500 million tonnes, will see two significant waves of new supply from the US and Qatar, ensuring molecule availability for bunkering, which currently constitutes a tiny fraction of total demand. However, the panel at SIBCON 2026 noted that while supply is robust, the bunker industry will influence where these molecules can be delivered, but not their price.

This shift implies a critical need for investment in specialized bunkering logistics and infrastructure that can adapt to diverse port calls, presenting both an operational hurdle and a competitive opportunity for bunker suppliers. Beyond the immediate logistical challenges, the long-term viability of LNG’s transition to bio-LNG is significantly threatened by regulatory uncertainty, a factor the bunker industry can influence through advocacy for clearer policy frameworks.