Fujairah’s bunkering market has yet to find its footing. April sales data reveals that the Gulf port is still deep in the grip of the disruption caused by the Iran conflict — and the situation continued to deteriorate even after a temporary ceasefire was announced.
According to data from the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone and S&P Global Commodity Insights, as reported by Ship & Bunker, total marine fuel sales in April came in at 126,563 m3. That figure represents a 20.3% drop from March — itself already a record low — and an 81.1% decline compared to April 2025.
Sales Collapse Across All Fuel Grades
The downturn was broad-based, affecting every major fuel category tracked at the port.
- 380 CST VLSFO, the dominant grade at Fujairah, fell 81.6% year-on-year to 81,460 m3, and slipped a further 17.1% from already depressed March volumes.
- 380 CST HSFO dropped 80.4% year-on-year to 37,214 m3, and was down 27.1% month-on-month.
- 180 CST VLSFO saw a 38.8% year-on-year decline to just 542 m3.
- LSMGO sales fell 79.4% year-on-year to 7,274 m3.
Despite its overall decline, HSFO’s share of total April bunker sales at Fujairah edged up slightly to 29.4%, compared to 28.29% in the same period last year, Ship & Bunker reports.
Prices Rise Sharply Year-on-Year
While volumes remain severely compressed, prices tell a different story. Fujairah’s average VLSFO price in April was $783/mt, up significantly from $497/mt recorded in April 2025, according to Ship & Bunker. For broader context, Ship & Bunker’s G20-VLSFO Index — which tracks average prices across 20 leading bunkering hubs — came in at $889.5/mt in April, compared to $531/mt a year ago.
Ceasefire Has Not Restored Traffic
Ship & Bunker notes that the sales decline was largely expected given continued disruption to shipping activity around the Strait of Hormuz. Notably, the data also suggests that a US-Iran temporary ceasefire announced at the start of April has not been sufficient to restore normal bunkering volumes at Fujairah. The port remains a key gateway for vessels transiting the Gulf region, and any prolonged interruption to Hormuz traffic directly reduces demand at the bunkering hub.
Does This Matter to You?
For vessel operators, charterers, and bunker traders with exposure to Gulf routing, the April figures are a clear signal that Fujairah cannot currently be relied upon as a bunkering hub at normal capacity. The 81.1% year-on-year volume drop indicates that the disruption is not a short-term blip — it is a sustained structural shift in how ships are moving through the region.
Shipping companies that regularly bunker at Fujairah should be actively reassessing their fuel planning, considering alternative ports, and monitoring developments around the Strait of Hormuz closely. The elevated VLSFO price at Fujairah — $783/mt in April versus $497/mt a year ago — also reflects the supply-demand pressures that arise when port activity is severely curtailed.
Port operators, P&I clubs, and maritime risk teams monitoring the broader Gulf region should treat these figures as a continued indicator of operational uncertainty in the area.
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, Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, S&P Global Commodity Insights
