Marine fuel sales in Fujairah experienced a significant drop of over 10% in June compared to the previous month. Data compiled by S&P Global Commodity Insights, in collaboration with the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) and the Port of Fujairah, indicates that the combined volume for all fuel oil and marine gasoil (MGO) grades reached 86,769 cubic meters (cbm) in June, down from 96,721 cbm in May. This marks a continued downward trend in bunker sales at the port.
The persistent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are cited as the primary reason for this decline. While volumes have continued to fall, the rate of decrease has somewhat moderated compared to earlier periods.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this sustained reduction in bunker sales at a key global bunkering hub like Fujairah suggests that carriers may be adjusting their routing or fuel procurement strategies to avoid the region due to security concerns. This could lead to longer transit times and potentially higher fuel costs if vessels are forced to bunker at alternative, more expensive locations. Forwarders should monitor carrier surcharges and schedule reliability for services transiting or relying on the Middle East.
