Marine fuel sales at Fujairah, the Middle East’s largest bunkering hub, fell to a fresh record low in June, marking a fifth consecutive month of decline as the Iran war continued to weigh on demand at the UAE port, according to Ship & Bunker.
Data from the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone and S&P Global Commodity Insights, published Wednesday and cited by Ship & Bunker, showed total bunker sales excluding lubricants at 86,769 m3 in June. That figure represents a 10.3% drop from May’s previous record low and an 84.6% decline compared to June 2025.
Decline Traces Back to February
According to Ship & Bunker, bunker sales at Fujairah have fallen every month since February, when the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran. The report notes that demand has yet to recover from that disruption, and renewed fighting between the US and Iran since late June—following Iranian attacks on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz—is expected to keep pressure on regional shipping and bunker demand, Ship & Bunker reports.
Mixed Performance Across Fuel Grades
The weakness spanned most bunker grades, though some products showed a rebound from May’s unusually depressed volumes, per the report. Sales of 180 CST VLSFO dropped 71.7% year-on-year but jumped 940% from May to reach 2,080 m3.
380 CST VLSFO, Fujairah’s most-sold grade, plunged 90.4% year-on-year to a record-low 34,590 m3, down 39.7% from May, Ship & Bunker states. Meanwhile, 380 CST HSFO sales fell 73.5% year-on-year to 42,405 m3 but rose 34.2% from May’s levels.
Distillate fuels also remained under pressure. LSMGO sales dropped 77.9% year-on-year while edging up 5% from May to 7,513 m3. MGO sales fell 33.2% year-on-year and 52.5% from May, totaling just 181 m3, according to the report.
Prices Diverge From Global Trends
Product tightness has pushed Fujairah’s VLSFO price above global averages, Ship & Bunker reports. Citing its own price data, the outlet noted Fujairah’s average VLSFO price reached $1,116/mt in June, up from $921/mt in May and $522/mt in June 2025. By contrast, Ship & Bunker’s G20-VLSFO Index, tracking averages across 20 leading bunkering ports, stood at $782/mt in June—down from $900/mt in May and up from $554/mt a year earlier.
Does This Matter to You?
The sustained decline in Fujairah bunker volumes, paired with prices trading well above global benchmarks, signals ongoing supply and demand disruption at one of the region’s key refueling hubs. Vessel operators and charterers routing through the Strait of Hormuz or planning to bunker at Fujairah may find fuel availability and pricing less predictable than usual, based on the volumes and price gaps reported by Ship & Bunker.
The report’s reference to continued Iran-US tensions since late June, including attacks on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, indicates that regional bunkering conditions remain tied to the security situation. Beyond the figures and events described in the source material, the broader operational impact is not detailed.
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
