Rotterdam MGO has dropped to $768/MT this week — the lowest it has been at Europe's largest bunkering hub since late Q1. At the same time, Fujairah is holding above $893/MT, creating a $125/MT spread between the cheapest and most expensive major ports tracked in this brief. For a vessel lifting 20 MT, that difference is $2,500 on a single stem.
8-Port price table
| Port | Region | MGO ($/MT) | VLSFO ($/MT) | vs Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rotterdam | N. Europe | $768 | $622 | ▼ $24 |
| Houston | US Gulf | $779 | $631 | ▼ $13 |
| Gibraltar | Med/Atlantic | $815 | $661 | → flat |
| Singapore | Asia Pacific | $840 | $685 | ▲ $11 |
| Miami | US East Coast | $821 | $668 | → flat |
| Las Palmas | Canary Islands | $831 | $674 | ▼ $8 |
| Panama | Central America | $848 | $692 | ▲ $6 |
| Fujairah | Middle East | $893 | $738 | ▲ $18 |
Prices are indicative $/MT MGO DMA grade and VLSFO 0.5% as of 15 May 2026. Verify with your physical supplier before ordering. Source: Ship & Bunker, MABUX.
Market drivers this week
The softening at Rotterdam and Houston reflects a broader crude index pullback — Brent has eased from recent highs as OPEC+ output signals remain mixed. Rotterdam's drop of $24/MT week-on-week makes it the standout value for European and North Atlantic routing decisions this week.
Fujairah's continued premium is driven by persistent regional demand from East–West routing via the Strait of Hormuz. Vessels transiting from the Indian Ocean or heading toward Asian destinations should factor a meaningful price penalty into their bunker budget if lifting in the Gulf.
Singapore's modest rise of $11/MT tracks Asian refining margins, which have tightened on summer demand signals. The Singapore–Rotterdam spread has widened to $72/MT this week, reinforcing the case for European departure vessels to lift as much as their tank capacity allows before heading east.
Rotterdam is the cheapest European lift point by $47/MT over Gibraltar this week. For a vessel departing Northern Europe bound for the Med — say Rotterdam to Monaco (1,400nm at 12 knots) — lifting at Rotterdam rather than topping up at Gibraltar saves approximately $940 on a 20 MT stem. Tank capacity permitting, load full in Rotterdam.
Worked example — Gibraltar to Las Palmas
A 52m motor yacht preparing for an Atlantic crossing from Gibraltar to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (860nm) at 12 knots with a fuel burn of 310 L/hr:
Fuel cost calculation — Gibraltar vs Rotterdam lift
Use SeaWise to run this calculation for your vessel's actual fuel profile — enter your departure and destination ports, your cruising speed, and your fuel burn rate, and the app returns total fuel cost at current market prices in seconds.
Next week to watch
- Fujairah: Monitor for any Gulf supply disruptions — prices above $900 are possible if regional tensions escalate.
- Rotterdam: Current softness may reverse if North Sea refinery turnaround activity picks up in late May.
- Panama: Prices have drifted $6 higher week-on-week. Vessels transiting the Canal should account for a possible $850+ price environment.
- Singapore: Asian demand indicators remain firm. Expect the Singapore–Rotterdam spread to hold above $60/MT through end of May.
Model your bunker costs with live prices
SeaWise pulls current MGO and VLSFO prices at Mediterranean and Atlantic hubs, then calculates your total voyage fuel cost against your vessel's actual burn curve. Available on iOS and web.