Zhoushan | January 7, 2026 – The 2025 fiscal year marks a defining moment in the global maritime fuel supply chain, as Zhoushan rose to become the world’s third-largest bunkering hub, surpassing Fujairah and trailing only Singapore and Rotterdam. The milestone reflects more than a cyclical recovery or diversion-driven uplift; it signals a structural realignment in global bunkering geography, with China now exerting a decisive influence over North Pacific maritime energy flows.
Zhoushan’s total bonded bunker sales reached 8.03 million metric tonnes (mt) in 2025, up from 7.26 million mt in 2024, representing a year-on-year increase of 10.6%. Crossing the 8-million-mt threshold firmly places the port within the global top tier, transforming it from a regional leader into a strategic international bunkering hub.
| Metric | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Bunkering Volume | 7.26 million mt | 8.03 million mt | +10.6% |
| Global Ranking | 4th | 3rd | Surpassed Fujairah |
| Market Position | Regional Leader | Global Top Three | Structural upgrade |
Zhoushan’s expansion in 2025 was driven by organic demand, operational maturity, and coordinated state policy support. The narrowing gap with Singapore and Rotterdam underscores China’s growing ability to channel its vast domestic refining capacity into competitive international bunkering, capturing tramp and liner traffic that traditionally favored Southeast Asian hubs.
Table of Contents
Monthly Sales Dynamics Reflect Policy-Driven Market Control (2025)
Zhoushan’s bunker volumes in 2025 followed a clearly defined monthly rhythm, shaped primarily by China’s bonded fuel export quota system, with seasonal holidays, weather events, and pricing differentials acting as secondary modifiers. The table below links monthly volumes directly to their dominant commercial or policy driver, illustrating the structural, not episodic nature of Zhoushan’s growth.
| Month | Bunker (mt) | Primary Market Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 685,000 | Release of primary annual bonded fuel export quota |
| Feb | 590,000 | Lunar New Year slowdown offset by elevated structural demand |
| Mar | 660,000 | Post-holiday industrial restart and normalization of vessel calls |
| Apr | 694,000 | “Spring peak” driven by export acceleration and improved price competitiveness |
| May | 655,000 | Sustained demand supported by consistent VLSFO price discounts versus Singapore |
| Jun | 626,000 | Stable quota utilization closing a record first half (H1: 3.91 million mt) |
| Jul | 645,000 | Market stabilization following implementation of digital bunker delivery systems (e-BDN) |
| Aug | 668,000 | Peak summer trading activity; high tramp vessel traffic and strong daily averages |
| Sept | 651,000 | Temporary contraction due to typhoon-related anchorage and weather disruptions |
| Oct | 620,000 | Seasonal softening aligned with broader cooling in global shipping demand |
| Nov | 673,000 | Rebound driven by increased HSFO demand from scrubber-fitted vessels |
| Dec | 763,000 | Aggressive year-end clearance of remaining bonded fuel export quotas |
Strategic Interpretation
The December quota-clearance surge, now a recurring feature of the Zhoushan market, represents a unique strategic window for global shipowners. Elevated fuel availability combined with aggressive supplier pricing consistently makes year-end Zhoushan bunkering among the most competitive in the Asia-Pacific region.
More broadly, the month-by-month pattern demonstrates that Zhoushan’s volume growth is policy-structured rather than event-driven, reinforcing its evolution from a tactical refueling option into a core global bunkering hub with predictable liquidity cycles.
Infrastructure and Digitalization: The Hidden Engine of Growth
Zhoushan’s volume gains would not have been possible without a parallel expansion in physical capacity and operational efficiency. Port efficiency has become the primary defensive moat protecting its market share.
Anchorage Expansion and Throughput Scaling
The expansion of Tiaozhumen Anchorage from five to eight priority berths proved decisive. In 2025, anchorage-based bunker deliveries reached 2.84 million mt, representing a 19.1% year-on-year increase. This expansion directly mitigated congestion risk and enabled the port to absorb double-digit growth without compromising turnaround times.
Digital Leadership: e-BDN Implementation
In July 2025, Zhoushan became the first Chinese port to implement a digital Bunker Delivery Note (e-BDN) system. By replacing paper-based documentation with real-time digital verification, the port eliminated administrative friction, improved transparency, and aligned service quality with international best practices, an increasingly important factor for global shipowners and charterers.
24-Hour Operational Capability
The expansion of night-time bunkering operations transformed Zhoushan into a true 24-hour hub, dramatically increasing effective daily capacity. This flexibility is particularly attractive to tramp vessels, which prioritize ports that minimize waiting time and allow unscheduled calls.
Together, these measures repositioned Zhoushan as a high-efficiency, high-reliability bunkering destination, comparable in operational standards to Singapore. a fully round-the-clock bunkering center, capable of handling sustained high volumes without sacrificing efficiency.
Fuel Strategy and the Green Transition
VLSFO Pricing as a Strategic Weapon
Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) remained the backbone of Zhoushan’s bunker market in 2025, accounting for over 85% of total sales. The port’s decisive advantage lay in domestic tax rebates for low-sulfur fuel production, enabling Zhoushan to maintain a consistent USD 3–5/mt discount versus Singapore throughout much of the year.
This pricing differential proved critical in attracting price-sensitive tramp and regional liner traffic, fundamentally reshaping vessel routing behavior in the North Pacific.
From Green Pilot to Commercial Reality
The “Green Zhoushan” initiative advanced significantly between 2024 and 2025:
- 2024: Pilot-phase biofuel (B24) trials and cautious LNG licensing.
- 2025: Full operational rollout:
- Biofuel (B24): Nearly 120,000 mt sold on a commercial basis.
- Methanol: Launch of the port’s first dedicated methanol bunkering vessel, supporting next-generation dual-fuel fleets.
- LNG: Establishment of a bonded LNG warehouse, formalizing Zhoushan’s role in gas-fueled shipping.
While alternative fuels still represent a modest share of total volumes, early infrastructure deployment positions Zhoushan ahead of many regional competitors as IMO decarbonization rules tighten.
Competitive Landscape and Global Benchmarking
Zhoushan’s ascent into the global top three reflects the successful narrowing of both the price gap and the service gap with established leaders.
Structural Advantages of the Zhoushan Model
- Fiscal Leverage: Tax rebates deliver sustained pricing power.
- Infrastructure-Led Growth: Anchorage expansion and 24-hour operations underpin volume scalability.
- Digital Integration: e-BDN adoption elevates service standards to global parity.
- Agile Quota Management: Year-end quota optimization prevents supply bottlenecks and maximizes annual throughput.
Zhoushan has demonstrated that policy-aligned efficiency can outperform event-driven volume gains. Entering the next fiscal period, the port carries unprecedented momentum with its 2025 performance.
Source: Information Office of Zhoushan Municipal People’s Government