Singapore’s bunker market continued to set records in August, with conventional and biofuel sales climbing for a fourth straight month even as the Strait of Hormuz remained closed for much of the period, according to Ship & Bunker, which cited preliminary data from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
Record Volumes Despite Regional Disruption
According to Ship & Bunker, Singapore’s total bunker sales across all products—including LNG and methanol—reached 37.77 million mt in the January-August period, up 2.5% from 36.86 million mt in the same period of 2025. This marks the highest January-August total the port has ever recorded, the outlet reported.
Conventional and biofuel sales alone totalled 37.33 million mt over the eight months, a 2.2% increase year-on-year, while LNG bunker sales rose 23.5% to 435,620 mt, Ship & Bunker noted.
For August specifically, conventional and biofuel demand reached 4.71 million mt, up 0.7% from July but down 3.8% from August 2025, the report said. This was the highest monthly figure since March 2026, when demand had surged following the start of the Iran war, according to Ship & Bunker.
HSFO Gains Ground as Spread Widens
Ship & Bunker reported that HSFO sales rose 7.3% month-on-month to 2.10 million mt in August, capturing 44.4% of conventional and biofuel sales—up from 41.7% in July. Meanwhile, VLSFO sales fell 5.8% to 2.19 million mt.
The outlet attributed this shift to a widening VLSFO-HSFO price spread, which averaged $193/mt in August, compared to just $74/mt in September 2025. This has restored the cost advantage for scrubber-fitted vessels, Ship & Bunker explained.
Biofuel blend sales rose 45% on the month to 57,300 mt but remained 58% lower year-on-year, with year-to-date biofuel volumes at 515,100 mt—roughly half of last year’s total for the same period, according to the report.
LNG bunker sales held flat at 58,640 mt in August, down 12.4% from a year earlier, while no methanol or ammonia bunker sales were recorded, Ship & Bunker said.
Fewer Calls, Larger Stems
Singapore recorded 3,588 bunker calls in August, down 2.4% from July, pushing the average stem size up to 1,313.8 mt, according to Ship & Bunker. Tanker tonnage visiting the port fell 3.6% year-on-year, which the outlet linked to ongoing disruption in the Gulf region.
Does This Matter to You?
For operators and traders tracking fuel availability through Singapore, the data suggests the port has maintained supply continuity despite geopolitical disruption in the Hormuz region, according to the source material. The widening VLSFO-HSFO spread reported by Ship & Bunker may be relevant to owners of scrubber-fitted vessels evaluating fuel choice economics at this key bunkering hub.
The reported decline in tanker arrivals and gas carrier tonnage could also be of interest to those monitoring vessel traffic patterns linked to Gulf-related disruptions, as noted in the Ship & Bunker report.
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
