Bunker Fuel Market Size, Share and Trends 2024 to 2034

The global bunker fuel market size was USD 125.03 billion in 2023, calculated at USD 130.43 billion in 2024 and is expected to be worth around USD 199.09 billion by 2034. The market is slated to expand at 4.32% CAGR from 2024 to 2034.

  • Last Updated : September 2024
  • Report Code : 4883
  • Category : Energy and Power

Bunker Fuel Market Size and Forecast 2024 to 2034

The global bunker fuel market size is projected to be worth around USD 125.03 billion by 2034 from USD 130.43 billion in 2024, at a CAGR of 4.32% from 2024 to 2034. The bunker fuel market is expected to grow due to growing global shipping, demand for clean fuels, and improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of bunker fuel, which promote fuel consumption and the market’s growth.

Bunker Fuel Market Size 2024 to 2034

Bunker Fuel Market Key Takeaways

  • Asia Pacific contributed the largest market share of 49% in 2023.
  • By grade, the HFO segment contributed the largest share of the market in 2023.
  • By grade, the LSHFO stimulation segment is expected to show considerable growth in the market over the forecast period.
  • By distributor, the IOC/NOC segment accounted for the largest share of the market in 2023.
  • By distributor, the large independent distributor segment is anticipated to witness significant growth in the market over the studied period.
  • By end user, the bulk carriers segment generated the highest share of the market in 2023.
  • By end user, the container ship segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period.

Asia Pacific Bunker Fuel Market Size and Growth 2024 to 2034

The Asia Pacific bunker fuel market size was exhibited at USD 61.26 billion in 2023 and is projected to be worth around USD 98.55 billion by 2034, poised to grow at a CAGR of 4.41% from 2024 to 2034.

Asia Pacific Bunker Fuel Market Size 2024 to 2034

Asia Pacific led the bunker fuel market in 2023. The Asia Pacific bunker fuel market is growing as a result of healthy sea-borne trade, rising shipping activities, and stringent emission standards on ships. Large-scale operation ports and shipbuilding centers across the world, rising technological advancement, and a growing economy all contribute to the growth of this market.

The Asia Pacific, bunker fuel industry, is important because of the prominent shipping centers in regions such as Singapore and Shanghai. It is driven by growing import and export volumes, higher standards on emission, and the greater use of low-sulfur products. Technological development and growth of the regional economy also help in the market development.

  • As of 2022, China ranks first for exporter goods and second for imported goods by value. China's major exports are mechanical and electric machinery and equipment, automotive products, including vehicle parts, chemicals and plastics, iron and steel articles, furniture, etc.
  • In March 2022, TotalEnergies Marine Fuels carried out its first marine bio-VLSFO (Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil) bunker delivery in Singapore’s port waters as part of a biofuel trial recently completed by NYK Line and Anglo American.

Bunker Fuel Market Share, By Region, 2023 (%)

North America is observed to grow at a notable rate in the bunker fuel market during the forecast period. The maritime industry is one of the most globally significant industries, and the United States is one of its leading participants. As has been highlighted earlier, almost all the states in the country have very big ports. The transport means most commonly used for these goods is the maritime transport industry. Thus, this is parallel with the changes in exports and imports. This was so because the global downturn, particularly in the maritime business, led to a decline in the bunker fuel business in the country.

United States Coast Guard (USCG) regulations include regulations relating to the design, equipment, operation of the vessel and personnel on board vessels that transport LNG as cargo and regulations for boil-off gas fueling systems used on LNG carriers. The use of LNG as fuel for Ships other than the Ships that transport LNG as a commodity is still in its early stages in North America.

  • In April 2024, JAX LNG and Seaside LNG conducted the inaugural liquefied natural gas bunkering in the Port of Savannah of CMA CGM SYMI during the ship’s call at the Garden City Terminal.

Market Overview

Bunker fuel can be defined as the different categories of marine fuel that are used to propel ships, with elements such as viscosity, pour point, sulfur, carbon, and metal residue being the differentiating factors. Also, it is a heavy fuel oil that is most commonly used in ships, especially by cruises, oil tankers, and container ships, due to the sticky nature of the fuel. Bunker fuel is applied as fuel for power generation and lighting on big ships and as a fuel for heating and electricity.

AI Impact on the Bunker Fuel Market

AI application in the bunker fuel market demonstrated the potential to be optimized with the help of pre-calculation conducted by Artificial Intelligence, and this is capable of enhancing the parameters of accuracy as well as the time of operation and eliminating human factors and operational inefficiencies. Furthermore, astute bunkering stations can monitor fuel quality in real time, thus ensuring vessels have a quality fuel supply that meets set standards.

AI plays a significant role in the bunker fuel market, ensuring that control requirements are being met by different bunkering companies by monitoring and managing fuel composition. With the help of AI frameworks, bunkering operations can ensure that vessels obtain correct fuel blends, thus reducing sulfur emissions and paving the way for cleaner oceans.

  • In March 2024, Fuelink, a maritime technology provider, launched its new digital platform, providing a key resource for bunker data management and fuel supply optimization. Fuelink uses AI-powered simulations to improve decision-making, increase efficiency, and reduce costs

Bunker Fuel Market Growth Factors

  • Bunker fuels are used by ships involved in international trade, thus causing a rise in demand for these fuels.
  • Environment laws drive the bunker fuel market organization towards the use of low-sulfur and other types of fuel.
  • The economic growth leads to an increase in shipping activities and a resultant increase in fuel consumption.

Market Scope

Report Coverage Details
Market Size by 2034 USD 199.09 Billion
Market Size in 2023 USD 125.03 Billion
Market Size in 2024 USD 130.43 Billion
Market Growth Rate from 2024 to 2034 CAGR of 4.32%
Largest Market Asia Pacific
Base Year 2023
Forecast Period 2024 to 2034
Segments Covered Grade, Distributor, End user, and Regions
Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa

Market Dynamics

Driver

Growing global trade

The steady growth of demand for the bunker fuel market is due to the seaborne transportation business and offshore market. Bunkering is the provision of fuel to a ship, which terms the fuel as bunker, and it involves the process of how the fuel is disposed in the available shipboard tanks. Bunker fuels are marine fuels that are categorized depending on their viscosity, pour point, sulfur, carbon, and metals residues.

Bunker fuel can be defined as a category of heavy oil processed from crude oil. Without it, the maritime business would have thrived, and it would have remained one of the most valuable sources of business and trade around the world. The maritime industry is on the path to a sustainable future, and therefore, sustainable changes in bunker fuels are charting the course in the right direction. Moreover, the need to lower emissions and avoid pollution besides meeting set standards and regulations has also forced the quick advancement of cleaner ones.

Restraint

Shift towards alternative fuel

The alternative fuels for the shipping industry have identified LNG, LPG, methanol, biofuel, and hydrogen as the most promising solutions that hinder the growth of the bunker fuel market. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has established the guidelines for the life cycle GHG analysis of marine fuels. Biofuel is emerging as a promising alternative to traditional fossil fuels in the shipping industry.

  • In August 2024, BPCL sets up India's first biofuel bunker at Mumbai Port

Opportunity

Regulations enhancing demands

In the bunker fuel market, the International Maritime Organization laid guidelines regarding the type of fuel to be used in ships to minimize the effects of shipping on the environment, particularly through pollution control. This is because of the continuing stricter air emission regulation through IMO Annex VI and other localized air quality regulations coupled with positive economic incentives for liquid fuel oil as a bunker fuel, leading to the increased intention of the owners of marine vessels to adopt LNG as a fuel.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) regulations respond to the design and outfit, operational requirements, and personnel training on board Ships that transport LNG in their cargo and the fueling systems for boil-off gas used on LNG Carriers. LNG, not as the ship’s cargo but as the fuel for the ship that is not an LNG carrier, remains a rather new idea in North America.

Grade Insights

The HFO segment contributed the largest share of the bunker fuel market in 2023. Heavy fuel oil is a by-product that results from the distillation of crude oil. It is applied to create movements and heat in processes of highly viscous and dense fluids. HFO is employed as a marine fuel, although other applications include fuel oil, heating, and electricity generation. Heavy fuel oil is a residual fuel that will always depend on the type of crude oil. These blends are also called intermediate fuel oils or marine diesel oil.

The LSHFO stimulation segment is expected to show considerable growth in the bunker fuel market over the forecast period. The new generation low sulfur marine fuel oils, also known as the ultra-low sulfur fuel oils with sulfur content below 0.1%, have progressively been replaced by traditional intermediate fuel oils and heavy fuel oils. Low Sulphur Fuel Oil not only helps reduce and repair environmental damage from Sulphur dioxide emissions globally but also provides economic and operational benefits to the world. In addition to that, it also eradicates the health issues identified with environmental pollution.

  • In May 2022, BP p. l. c. signed a deal with Rio Tinto to perform the trials of the maritime fuels. The idea was to reduce the carbon emission from the marine fleet of miners in Anglo-Australia through the above deal. BP p. l. c. provided B30 biofuel that is comprised of 30% FAME and VLSFO. This partnership helped the company to promote its marine fuel offering and reduce its impact on climate change in the shipping consulting industry.
  • Across 2023, the fuel mix concerning samples received for testing in VPS laboratories equated to 62.7 million metric tons (MT), which is over 5 million MT of marine fuels per month. VLSFO was the most popular marine fuel, with 54.3% of the fuels used, followed by 29.5% HSFO, 14.2% MGO, 1.2% ULSFO, and 0.8% Biofuels.

Distributor Insights

The IOC/NOC segment accounted for the largest share of the bunker fuel market in 2023. National oil companies control 77% of global oil and gas production compared to formerly dominant international oil companies. National oil companies appear to be recovering in global energy markets and control most of the world's oil and gas reserves. The preliminary research investigation of the current status of defining their public role in terms of job creation and national economy was conducted to determine the strategic developmental needs that are required for sustaining and expanding the companies’ public impact.

National oil companies (NOCs) like Saudi Aramco and Russia’s Gazprom produce half of the world’s oil and gas, control two-thirds of global reserves, and serve as political giants in their home economies.

The large independent distributor segment is anticipated to witness significant growth in the bunker fuel market over the studied period. The global independent bunker oil distributor serves and supplies marine fuels to the vessels without being affiliated with any of the oil companies. They are responsible for sourcing the bunker oil from different refiners, negotiating for a favorable deal, and dealing with the product's transport [transportation and warehousing]. With proper services and a constant supply of fuel, these distributors are, therefore, very important in ensuring that maritime businesses run as planned.

End-user Insights

The bulk carriers segment generated the highest share of the bunker fuel market in 2023. These include the large carriers, which are highly essential in the international shipping business for moving the dry and the liquid bulk. Pressure from the increasing demand for raw materials means that efficient mass handling is essential to cut back on fuel usage. However, there is an emphasis on energy-efficient bulk carriers using considerably less fuel and emitting less carbon. Bulk carriers, in particular, constitute a large proportion of sea-borne trade.

Dry and liquid bulk carriers, which are large ships employed in the transportation of mass cargo through the sea, are gradually being developed with efficiency in energy and the fuel they require. This is due to environmental issues, such as greenhouse gas emissions, and the need to handle bulk cargo efficiently to minimize fuel costs.

  • In May 2024, the newest Chinese shipbuilder, New Times Shipbuilding (NTS), completed its first liquefied natural gas dual-fuel bulker vessel for the Singaporean shipowner Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS).
  • In July 2023, Peninsula entered into the bio bunker fuel supply business through the sale of the commodity to the bulk carrier La Luna.

The container ship segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the bunker fuel market during the forecast period. Most cargo ships utilize ‘bunker fuel,’ which is deemed to be the thick residue of petroleum. One would prefer to use fuel consumption by a containership, and it mainly depends on the ship's size and the speed of cruising. In order to minimize fuel consumption, shipping lines often opt for lower speeds. The amount of fuel used by a containership is mainly influenced by its size and cruising speed. However, the advantage of reduced fuel consumption needs to be weighed against longer shipping times and the potential need for more ships to maintain the same port call frequency on a pendulum service.

  • In January 2024, Maersk introduced a new vessel, a container ship operated with methanol.

Bunker Fuel Market Companies

  • TotalEnergies (France)
  • Marathon Petroleum Corporation (U.S.)
  • BP p.l.c. (U.K.)
  • Gazprom International Limited (Russia)
  • BP SINOPEC MARINE FUELS. (Singapore)
  • World Fuel Services Corporation. (U.S.)
  • BUNKER HOLDING (Denmark)
  • Exxon Mobil Corporation. (U.S.)
  • Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC. (U.S.)
  • Shell plc (U.K.)
  • Neste (Finland)
  • CHEMOIL ENERGY (Hong Kong)
  • LUKOIL (Russia)
  • Bomin Bunker Holding (Germany)
  • Minerva Bunkering (Switzerland)

Recent Developments

  • In October 2024, Vitol launched specialist biofuel bunker barges.
  • In January 2022, Titan LNG secured the tender for the delivery of LNG in the Port of Marseille for Corsica Linea’s new Ro-Pax LNG-fuelled ferry, A Galeotta.
  • In November 2022, Nimofast Brasila S. signed a partnership agreement with the Norwegian company KanferShipping AS in which Nimofast will provide small and medium-scale LNG shipping, small-scale floating storage units (FSU), and LNG bunkering solutions for clients in Brazil.

Segments Covered in the Report

By Grade

  • High Sulfur Fuel Oil (HSFO)
  • Low Sulfur Heavy Fuel Oil (LSHFO)
  • Marine Gas Oil (MGO)
  • Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
  • Others

By Distributor

  • IOC/NOC
  • Large Independent Distributor
  • Small Independent Distributor

By End user

  • Container Ship
  • Bulk Carrier
  • General Cargo
  • Oil Tanker
  • Product Tanker
  • Offshore Support Vessel
  • Others

By Geography

  • North America
  • Asia Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • Middle East & Africa

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Frequently Asked Questions

The global bunker fuel market size is expected to increase USD 199.09 billion by 2034 from USD 125.03 billion in 2023.

The bunker fuel market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of over 4.32% between 2024 and 2034.

The major players operating in the bunker fuel market are TotalEnergies, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, BP p.l.c., Gazprom International Limited, BP SINOPEC MARINE FUELS., World Fuel Services Corporation., BUNKER HOLDING, Exxon Mobil Corporation., Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC., Shell plc, Neste, CHEMOIL ENERGY, LUKOIL, Bomin Bunker Holding, Minerva Bunkering, and Others.

The driving factors of the bunker fuel market are the increase in shipping activities, growing global trade, and increase in fuel consumption.

Asia Pacific region will lead the global bunker fuel market during the forecast period 2024 to 2034.

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