Fujairah, the Middle East’s largest bunkering hub, recorded its lowest marine fuel sales ever in March 2026 — a stark reflection of the devastating toll the outbreak of war in Iran has taken on commercial shipping operations in the region. According to data from the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) and S&P Global Commodity Insights, as reported by Ship & Bunker, total bunker sales at the port came in at just 158,852 m3 for the month — a 71.1% drop from February and a 75.2% decline compared to March 2025.
A Port Under Fire
The dramatic collapse in sales follows weeks of sustained instability in the surrounding area. According to Ship & Bunker, the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran at the end of February, triggering a broad Iranian response that included attacks on multiple countries across the region, as well as efforts to close the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. The Port of Fujairah and vessels operating in its vicinity have been subjected to repeated attacks over the past eight weeks, making routine bunker operations extremely difficult or, in many cases, impossible to carry out.
Fuel-by-Fuel Breakdown
The sales data reveals steep year-on-year declines across almost all fuel categories, as reported by Ship & Bunker:
- 180 CST VLSFO: Down 91.6% year-on-year to just 100 m3
- 380 CST VLSFO: Down 77.3% to 98,204 m3
- 380 CST HSFO: Down 69.7% to 51,011 m3
- LSMGO: Down 75.3% to 9,338 m3
- MGO: Up 55.5% to 199 m3 — the only category to record growth
While the overall decline is historically unprecedented for the port, Ship & Bunker notes that the figures also indicate a meaningful volume of deliveries is still taking place at Fujairah, suggesting operations have not ground to a complete halt.
The Scale of Missing Supply
To illustrate the magnitude of the disruption, Ship & Bunker points out that if March’s sales pace were maintained across a full year, the annual total would amount to approximately 1.92 million m3 — a fraction of the 7.46 million mt recorded for the whole of 2025. That gap represents an enormous shortfall of marine fuel supply that must now be absorbed by other bunkering hubs around the world.
Ship & Bunker reports that Singapore currently appears to be the primary beneficiary of the volume lost at Fujairah, as operators seek alternative refuelling locations outside the conflict zone.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
