China’s major bunkering hub of Zhoushan has reached a new operational milestone, completing its first bonded bunkering operation at the Majishan port area — a move that extends marine fuel supply services to every general cargo terminal within the port city.
According to Ship & Bunker, citing media outlet China Daily, the inaugural operation took place at Majishan’s No. 1 berth on Monday. The bunker barge Dong Fang Zhao Yang 2 delivered 1,113 metric tonnes of bunker fuel to the Hong Kong-registered bulk carrier Xin Li Hai, a 180,000-DWT vessel, while cargo operations were simultaneously underway.
A Long-Standing Gap Now Closed
Majishan is described by Ship & Bunker as a major bulk cargo hub in northern Zhoushan, handling more than 57 million tonnes of cargo and recording over 250 foreign vessel calls in the past year. Despite this level of activity, regular bunkering services had not previously been available at the terminal.
Complex hydrological conditions and limited supply capacity were cited as the key barriers that had historically made refuelling operations at Majishan impractical.
Efficiency Gains for Visiting Vessels
With the new service now in place, vessels calling at Majishan can complete both cargo handling and bunkering within a single port call. Ship & Bunker notes this eliminates the need for vessels to make separate detours to other ports purely for fuel supply — a meaningful efficiency improvement for ship operators and fleet planners.
Zhoushan authorities have indicated plans to expand regular bunkering operations at Majishan going forward, as part of broader efforts to reinforce the port city’s position as a global bonded marine fuel supply hub.
A Hub Continuing to Grow
The development comes on the back of strong performance for Zhoushan’s bunkering sector overall. Ship & Bunker reports that approximately 8.03 million metric tonnes of bunker fuel were sold in Zhoushan in 2025, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 10.6%.
Does This Matter to You?
For those monitoring Asia-Pacific bunkering capacity and port efficiency, this development is worth tracking. The extension of bonded bunkering services to Majishan increases Zhoushan’s overall supply reach, particularly for bulk carriers — a vessel segment that regularly calls at cargo-intensive terminals where simultaneous cargo and bunkering operations can yield meaningful time and cost savings.
As Zhoushan continues to scale its bunkering infrastructure, its growing footprint may influence competitive dynamics across the broader Asia-Pacific bunker market, particularly relative to other regional supply hubs.
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
