Zhoushan has entered the world's top three bunkering ports for the first time, overtaking Fujairah in the UAE to rank behind only Singapore and Rotterdam.

The milestone was announced on 22 October 2026 during the Global Marine Fuel Industry Development Conference, held as part of the 9th Oil Traders Conference in Zhoushan, China, where the 2025 Global Top 10 Bunker Ports ranking was unveiled.

According to the ranking, Zhoushan recorded bunker sales of 8.54 million tonnes in 2025, up 9.4% year-on-year, securing third place globally. Singapore and Rotterdam retained their positions as the world's two largest bunkering ports, while Antwerp-Bruges and Fujairah ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.

The latest ranking marks another step forward for China's largest bonded bunkering hub, which rose from fourth place in 2024. Zhoushan first entered the global top 10 in 2018, climbed to eighth in 2019 and fifth in 2021, before reaching the top three for the first time in 2025.

Zhoushan's growth has accelerated since the establishment of the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone in 2017. Annual bonded bunker sales increased from approximately 1.83 million tonnes in 2017 to 8.03 million tonnes in 2025, a 4.4-fold increase. Anchorage bunkering volumes reached 2.85 million tonnes in 2025, up 19.1%, while biofuel bunker sales rose to approximately 120,000 tonnes.

Beyond conventional marine fuels, Zhoushan is expanding its capabilities in LNG, methanol and ammonia bunkering. On 13 October, the port completed what was reported as the world's first ship-to-ship bunkering of green ammonia at Xiushan East Anchorage, supplying 1,000 tonnes to MINERAL EUROPA, an ammonia-powered bulk carrier operated by Belgium's CMB.TECH.

The growth momentum has continued into 2026. During the first nine months of the year, Zhoushan recorded marine fuel bunkering volumes of 6.24 million tonnes, an increase of 2.81% year-on-year.

With further investment in anchorage bunkering, digital fuel delivery systems and alternative fuel infrastructure, Zhoushan is working towards its next target: becoming a global bunkering hub with annual sales exceeding 10 million tonnes.