Singapore strengthens its lead as Asia’s multifuel marine and aviation hub

Marine fuel sales at Singapore hit an all-time high of 56.77 million metric tons in 2025 amid record port activity, according to official data, keeping the city state firmly entrenched as the world’s leading bunkering port, but the government has an eye on future maritime and aviation fuels.

Alternative marine fuel sales at the port are gaining traction, reaching 1.95 million mt in 2025, up from 1.35 million mt in 2024, as demand for bio-blended bunkers and LNG continued to grow.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has responded by opening new LNG bunker supply license applications from Jan. 14, and, together with Enterprise Singapore, plans to upgrade LNG bunkering standards and introduce Singapore’s first technical reference for ammonia bunkering in Q2 2026. These moves are designed to enable future trials and large-scale operations for next-generation fuels.

MPA said Singapore “further strengthened its position as a leading international maritime center in 2025” and is taking “coordinated steps in readying Singapore as a multi-fuel bunkering hub.” The government reiterated its commitment to maritime decarbonization, even as the US opposed the International Maritime Organization’s Net-Zero Framework, delaying a vote by a year. In October 2025, a Keppel-led consortium was appointed to carry out front-end engineering and design studies for ammonia power generation and bunkering, while three methanol bunkering licenses were awarded in November.

Trading hub

Singapore is not an oil producer, but its role as a trading, storage, and blending hub makes it one of the most influential energy centers globally. In 2025, ship arrivals totaled 3.22 billion gross tons and container throughput reached 44.66 million TEU, up 3.5% and 8.6% year over year, respectively, MPA data showed. The robust activity supported record marine fuel sales, underpinned by resilient global trade and strong fuel offtake.

Unlike major inland oil-consuming countries, Singapore’s oil demand is driven by its role as a hub for marine bunkers, aviation uplift, and petrochemical feedstock. S&P Global Energy CERA estimates Singapore’s total oil products consumption stands at 1.4 million barrels per day, with international bunkers accounting for 1.2 million b/d. This is up from 1.37 million b/d of total consumption in 2024, of which 1.15 million b/d were for international bunkers.

Residual fuel oil remains the largest demand segment at 919,331 b/d in 2025, rising from 896,449 b/d in 2024. Jet fuel consumption is estimated at 214,136 b/d in 2025, up from 198,460 b/d the previous year.

CERA forecasts Singapore’s refined products demand to peak in 2028 and notably shrink as it progresses toward a cleaner economy. Total oil products consumption is estimated at 1.4 million b/d in 2030, of which 895,403 b/d would be fuel oil.

Nonetheless, jet fuel consumption is set to rise in the region’s aviation hub. Consumption is estimated at 231,279 b/d in 2030.