Marine fuel sales at Singapore, the world’s largest bunkering hub, increased both month-on-month and year-on-year in June, driven largely by a jump in high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) demand, according to data released by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and reported by Ship & Bunker.
June Sales Volumes
Total sales of conventional and biofuel marine fuels reached 4.61 million mt in June, up 1.7% from the same month last year and 3% higher than May, Ship & Bunker reports. This marked the second consecutive month of rising sales in the city-state.
For the first half of 2026, cumulative sales totalled 27.91 million mt, a 4.6% increase over the 26.74 million mt recorded during the same period in 2025. Singapore had already logged a record annual total of 56.2 million mt in 2025, according to the report.
Product-by-Product Breakdown
According to Ship & Bunker’s analysis of MPA data, HSFO sales climbed to 2.03 million mt in June, the highest monthly figure since January 2026. This represented a 19.4% year-on-year rise and a 13.4% increase from May, making HSFO the primary driver behind the overall sales increase. HSFO’s share of total June bunker sales rose to 44.1%, up from 37.5% a year earlier.
VLSFO sales moved in the opposite direction, falling to 2.20 million mt — down 4.9% year-on-year and 4.3% from the previous month. Distillate sales rose 5.2% month-on-month to 345,100 mt but remained 5.8% below June 2025 levels.
Marine biofuel blends continued their decline, dropping for a fourth straight month to 37,500 mt, the lowest level since February 2024. This figure was down 76% year-on-year and 38.3% from May. Included in this total was 1,500 mt of B100 sales, a steep fall from May’s record 12,800 mt, Ship & Bunker notes.
LNG bunker sales, tracked separately from conventional and biofuel volumes, totalled 54,970 mt in June — down 0.7% year-on-year and 21.8% from May. No methanol or ammonia bunker sales were recorded in June, with methanol sales absent from MPA data since February, according to the report.
Bunker Calls and Prices
Singapore recorded 3,618 bunker calls in June, up 6.3% year-on-year but down 2% from May, Ship & Bunker reports. The average stem size for conventional and biofuel bunkers stood at approximately 1,275 mt, above May’s figure but below the 12-month average of 1,324 mt.
Ship & Bunker’s own pricing data showed Singapore’s average VLSFO price at $753/mt in June, compared to $532/mt a year earlier and $825/mt in May 2026. The publication’s G20-VLSFO Index averaged $824.5/mt in June, up from $554/mt the previous year but down from $900/mt in May.
Vessel Tonnage Trends
Total gross tonnage calling at Singapore rose 6.5% year-on-year to 279.8 million GT in June, according to MPA data cited by Ship & Bunker. Bulk carrier tonnage increased by 13.49 million GT year-on-year, while container tonnage rose by 1.83 million GT. Tanker tonnage, however, fell by 1.24 million GT over the same period.
Does This Matter to You?
The shift toward HSFO and away from VLSFO in Singapore’s bunker mix, as detailed by Ship & Bunker, may be relevant for vessel operators and bunker traders monitoring fuel availability and pricing trends at the world’s busiest bunkering port. The continued decline in biofuel blend sales and the absence of methanol transactions could also be of interest to those tracking the pace of alternative fuel adoption in the shipping sector. Changes in bulk carrier and tanker tonnage calling at Singapore may additionally be of note to port planners and market watchers assessing shifts in vessel traffic composition. The source material does not provide further detail on the underlying causes of these shifts, so any broader market implications beyond the reported figures remain unclear.
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 (data from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore)
