September 11, 2026. According to Reuters, “We don’t see any issues with sourcing bunkers and putting it on board as of today,” said Rishi Nyati, managing director at shipping company Emarat Maritime.
The March–April bunker squeeze at major shipping hubs has eased even with the Iran war still constraining Strait of Hormuz exports; operators at APPEC said they can source and load marine fuel today, though prices stay elevated.
Singapore VLSFO, the world’s largest bunkering market, is more than 60% above pre-war levels this week—softer than March records but still high enough that owners are buying more cautiously.
Repsol’s Max Tay said there is no current fuel-oil shortage, but blending stocks that meet spec remain the weak link and “mini-supply shocks” are still a risk while Hormuz flows stay disrupted.
Fujairah bunker activity is only about 40% of pre-war levels; Singapore volumes have held steadier, and some oil still moves—roughly 10–15 commodity-vessel transits a day via the Omani corridor.
Replacement barrels exist, Equatorial Marine Fuel’s COO said, but if prices do not work for suppliers or customers those barrels stay off the market—so the supply chain is available in theory and volume-constrained in practice.
Read the full story on Reuters.
