Shanghai’s cumulative bonded LNG bunker supplies have surpassed 2 million cubic metres, with 355 vessels having taken on the fuel since the service launched in 2022, according to Ship & Bunker.
The milestone follows a bunkering operation in which the port supplied 4,549 m3 of LNG to Kota Eagle, a container ship operated by Singapore-based Pacific International Lines (PIL). Ship & Bunker reports that the supply was confirmed in a statement issued by the Lin-gang Special Area authority on Wednesday.
A Rapidly Growing Bunkering Hub
Shanghai began trialling bonded LNG bunkering for international vessels in the Lin-gang Special Area in January 2022, according to Ship & Bunker. Two months later, in March 2022, the port carried out China’s first ship-to-ship bonded LNG bunkering operation for an international vessel, marking the start of a rapid expansion in LNG bunker supply activity at the port.
According to Ship & Bunker, cumulative LNG bunker volumes at Shanghai reached 1 million m3 in early 2025. The figure has since doubled to surpass 2 million m3 within roughly a year and a half, reflecting accelerating uptake of LNG as a marine fuel through the port.
Ship & Bunker also notes that Chinese authorities are working to position Shanghai as an international hub for green marine fuel bunkering and trading by 2030, tying the LNG bunkering growth to broader ambitions for the port.
Does This Matter to You?
The continued growth of bonded LNG bunkering volumes at Shanghai is relevant to operators of LNG-fuelled vessels transiting Asia-Pacific routes, as it points to expanding fuel availability and infrastructure at one of the region’s major ports. Bunker traders and suppliers tracking the development of alternative fuel markets may also find the milestone useful as an indicator of demand trends in China.
For charterers and vessel operators planning bunkering calls, the data suggests Shanghai is becoming an increasingly established option for LNG bunkering alongside other Asia-Pacific ports. The source material does not provide further detail on pricing, capacity constraints, or specific implications for other market participants, so the broader commercial impact beyond the reported volumes is not yet clear.
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
