# Global marine fuel market volatility

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/global-marine-fuel-market-volatility
> Updated: 2026-09-14T08:28:07.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

In mid-2026, the marine fuel market experienced significant volatility driven by Middle East conflicts. Initially, buyers faced record-high bunker prices alongside a decline in fuel quality. Data indicated that between January and July 2026, Bunker Alerts regarding fuel stability and abrasive problems had already exceeded the total number of alerts issued in 2024.

By August 2026, the supply squeeze caused by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz began to ease. While prices for fuels such as Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) remained high, major shipping hubs reported that acute shortages had subsided. In Singapore, marine fuel sales rose for the fourth consecutive month, driven by demand for high-sulphur fuels. However, market volatility persists, and the Fujairah bunkering hub in the United Arab Emirates continues to operate at approximately 40 per cent of its pre-war activity levels.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-14: Singapore marine fuel sales rise amid stabilizing global bunker supply

Singapore's marine fuel sales rose for a fourth straight month in August as global bunkering hubs stabilize despite ongoing supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/singapore-marine-fuel-sales-rise-amid-stabilizing-global-bunker-supply

### 2026-08-24: Marine fuel quality declines as bunker prices reach record highs

Marine fuel buyers face rising bunker prices and declining fuel quality in 2026, with a sharp increase in Bunker Alerts for HSFO and VLSFO fuels due to stability and abrasive issues.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/marine-fuel-quality-declines-as-bunker-prices-reach-record-highs

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Cite as: Global marine fuel market volatility. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/global-marine-fuel-market-volatility