Marine bunker fuel sales at Fujairah port dipped 5% y-o-y to 3.7 mn cubic meters in 1H 2025, Reuters reports, citing data from the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ). The dip in sales can be attributed to vessels operating with more caution in the Gulf last month amid tensions between Iran and Israel — which also saw Iran threaten to close the Strait of Hormuz. Several ships opted to minimize the duration spent in the region following warnings of a potential closure of the strait.

Sales in June hit a four-month low to 563k cbm — easing 8% m-o-m — as tensions reached their peak. Bunker price differentials to benchmark quotes remained muted for both high-sulfur and low-sulfur bunker grades in 2025, sources told the newswire, indicating weak underlying demand and ample supply in the market.

Traders clocked it early: Several traders expected fuel sales to dampen as demand for refueling was lukewarm for the majority of 2025, even prior to the recent escalation of geopolitical tensions, Dubai-based trading sources told the newswire.

The port’s fuel sales are on a downward trajectory: Marine fuel sales volume slumped to a record low of 554k cbm in February amid an uncertain outlook facing the shipping industry. The slowdown in Fujairah is a “reflection of the broader uncertainty in global trade…as shipping firms are optimizing their operations more cautiously to navigate volatile conditions,” Container xChange CEO Christian Roeloffs told Reuters back in March.

Why is Fujairah important? Fujairah — a major regional bunkering port — is a key refuelling point for commercial vessels transporting crude out of the Gulf. The port is poised to see methanol and LNG dominating its alternative bunker fuels.

Tags: