Generic Hero BannerGeneric Hero Banner
Últimas notícias do mercado

Bunker prices slow to correct with US-Iran deal

  • Mercados: Oil products
  • 15/06/26

Bunker fuel prices are likely to take a few months to return to pre-war levels despite the agreement between the US and Iran, market participants told Argus.

The US-Iran war that started three months ago pushed marine fuel prices to their highest in four years, buoyed by crude oil supply disruptions and altered trade flows.

Despite the peace agreement, traders and shipowners still expect prices to remain elevated for a few months as suppliers and refineries have already bought crude and fuel at premiums and are unlikely to sell at a discount, which will support higher bunker prices.

The dob Singapore very-low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) bunker price fell to $638.54/t today from $688.09/t on 12 June, and remains well above the average price of $458.83/t in the first two months of the year. The dob Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) VLSFO price dropped to $590.75/t today from $617/t on 12 June, compared with an average of $428.66/t in January-February.

Market participants do not expect bunker fuel shortages seen in several regions to resolve quickly.

"It may well take some time to see the pre-war [price] levels, especially on clean products," one Mediterranean-based bunker trader said. Demand is stronger during the summer for gasoline and jet, so the replenishment rate for reserves on clean products is going to be slower, he added.

Traders also remain concerned about the stability of the peace deal, given previous failed ceasefires. Shipowners still need to regain confidence to call at Middle East ports where an acute shortage of VLSFO in particular has driven up premiums at Fujairah in the UAE.

US president Donald Trump ordered an end to the US naval blockade against Iran and said the strait of Hormuz would be reopening quickly. But the agreement on 14 June is still to be followed by a 60-day period of further negotiations between the two countries. And while hostilities between the the US and Iran appear to have halted, there was still a flare up in hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel on 14 June.

"Credible assurances from both sides of the conflict must be given before traffic can resume fully to pre-conflict levels," said Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer at Danish shipping association Bimco.


Compartilhar
Generic Hero Banner

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more