Fuel tester flags no bunker quality problems in Zhoushan
Fuel testing firm VPS issued no bunker alerts for Chinese ports last year, while Singapore accounted for 46% of them, according to the firm’s analysis of fuel quality at major bunker ports.
IMAGE: Ningbo container terminal in China. Getty Images
VPS attributed China's clean record to how fuel reaches ships there. Chinese ports receive bunker fuel through dedicated refinery supply chains and maintain tight control over barge deliveries, the company said.
This sets them apart from fragmented bunker hubs, where multiple traders handle fuel between the refinery and the ship, increasing the risk of contamination and poor-quality deliveries.
VPS added that Zhoushan is increasingly seen as a key link in global bunker supply as the market's focus shifts from West to East.
Singapore's large share of alerts reflects the volume of fuel supplied at the port, rather than poorer fuel handling practices, according to VPS.
Global marine fuel quality has deteriorated, with off-spec rates for HSFO, VLSFO and MGO increasing across all regions in January-August 2026 compared with 2025. VPS expects off-spec incidents to increase further in 2026.
Off-spec fuel is bunker fuel that fails to meet the quality standard the buyer ordered, and it can damage engines or cause problems on board.
North America showed a mixed picture, with notable off-spec spikes on the East Coast requiring buyers to conduct more pre-burn testing, VPS said.
Regional ports generally showed greater inconsistency and higher dispute rates, partly because of smaller buyer operations and thinner market activity.
Andrew Morton, VPS' managing director for Asia, the Middle East and Africa, attributed the deterioration in global fuel quality primarily to supply disruptions stemming from the Middle East conflict and volatile availability of VLSFO and VGO blend stocks.
"Zhoushan's ability to maintain high-quality standards provides a stable anchor for fleets navigating an otherwise uncertain global bunker market," he said.
By Gautamee Hazarika
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