- Global bunker fuel market set to rise to a total volume of 460 mn tons by 2020, exhibiting a steady 3.1% CAGR in the last six years of the ongoing decade.
- Bunker fuel comprises of the total expenditure of vessel operators and for up to three quarters of a ship’s total running expenses.
- The pricing dynamics of the bunker fuel market is important for the overall marine sector, with ports offering bunker fuel at the lowest rates.
- The rising density of marine trade around emission control areas (ECAs) is likely to make a consistent driver for the global bunker fuel market.
According to Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global bunker fuel market is expected to rise to a total volume of 460 mn tons by 2020, exhibiting a steady 3.1% CAGR in the last six years of the ongoing decade, reports the Best Market Herald.
Global Bunker Fuel Market
The bunker fuel market is a key part of the industrial network around the booming global marine sector. Bunker fuel comprises a major part of the total expenditure of vessel operators and can account for up to three quarters of a ship’s total running expenses.
The pricing dynamics of the bunker fuel market have thus become important for the overall marine sector, with ports offering bunker fuel at the lowest rates attaining significant economic positions.
Moreover, the bunker fuel market is also closely linked to environmental protocol and regulations, as combustion of marine fuels leads to the emission of several pollutants, including nitrogen and sulfur oxides.
Rising Offshore Oil and Gas Activities to Drive Bunker Fuel Market
One of the key drivers for the global bunker fuel market is the rising need for offshore exploration and extraction activities in the oil and gas sector.
- Mounting scarcity in onshore oil wells has led to a steady rise in offshore activities, particularly in the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea.
- Established oil producing countries such as the U.S. have already made significant advances in the offshore petroleum sector
- Middle East and Africa could also be a key market for bunker fuel due to the booming offshore petroleum sector in West Africa.
The rising government support to environmental measures, particularly the reduction in sulfur compounds used in marine lubricants and bunker fuel, is an influential factor for the global bunker fuel market.
Marine trade in environmental pollution
Bunker fuels contain significant amounts of sulfurous and nitrogenous compounds, the oxides of both of which have a significant adverse impact on the environment. Acknowledging the role of the growing marine trade in environmental pollution, several governments in Europe have maintained a supportive stance towards low-sulfur bunker fuel formulations.
The rising density of marine trade around emission control areas (ECAs) is likely to make this a consistent driver for the global bunker fuel market.
Bifurcated global fuel market
By type of fuel, the global bunker fuel market is bifurcated into residual fuel and distillate fuel. Residual fuel is likely to account for more than three-quarters of the global bunker fuel market in the coming years thanks to the widespread demand for IFO 380 fuel oil.
Intermediate fuel oils (IFO) are the dominant revenue generator in the global bunker fuel market, with IFO 380 and IFO 180 being the most popular fuel grades.
Leading players in the global bunker fuel market include World Fuel Services Corporation, Lukoil-Bunker LLC, Chemoil Energy Limited, and Gazpromneft Marine Bunker LLC.
Did you subscribe to our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Bestmarketherald
