The FOBAS Fuel Insight Programme is the cornerstone of our commitment to advancing fuel quality standards in the maritime industry. This series leverages the extensive expertise of our Fuel Oil Bunker Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) teams, who are at the forefront of fuel testing and analysis.
Our expert teams provide critical insights and data that are essential for monitoring fuel quality on a global scale. This is particularly crucial in shipping, where fuel quality directly impacts operational efficiency, safety and environmental compliance.
This bi-annual series of Fuel quality reports will share the knowledge and experience of our FOBAS teams in a comprehensive and easily accessible format. In essence, the FOBAS Fuel Insight programme is not just about testing fuel, it’s about empowering the maritime industry with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed decisions, reduce risks, and embrace the future of sustainable shipping.
As the industry transitions to future fuels, such as biofuels, methanol, hydrogen, ammonia and others, the role of FOBAS becomes even more vital. Our programme helps shipowners and operators navigate the complexities of these new fuels, ensuring they meet stringent quality standards and regulatory requirements. By staying ahead of emerging trends and regulatory changes, FOBAS supports the maritime sector in achieving operational excellence and environmental sustainability.
Highlights of the latest H1 2026 Fuel Quality Report include:
Fuel quality variability remains a major operational risk globally: Fuel quality issues remain widespread across the global marine fuel supply chain, with persistent occurrences of sulphur non-compliance, high water content, elevated sediment levels and catalytic fines. While many fuels remain within ISO 8217 limits, the frequency of off-specification fuels has remained consistently high throughout early 2026. Major bunkering hubs, particularly in Singapore and Europe, continue to experience some of the most complex fuel quality challenges, reinforcing the need for robust testing, supplier oversight and onboard fuel management.
Operational performance is becoming more important than simple specification compliance: Fuel can be fully compliant on paper yet still cause significant operational problems. Investigative work identified several incidents involving Singapore-bunkered fuels containing high concentrations of Estonian shale oil. These fuels met ISO 8217 requirements, but were linked to stability issues, filter blockages, separator problems potential and increased maintenance requirements. Focus needs to shift from a simple “on-spec versus off-spec” assessment to understanding fuel stability, compatibility, blend composition and real-world performance in service.
Biofuels continue to grow without creating significant new quality concerns: The use of FAME-based biofuel blends, particularly B30 blends, continued to expand across major bunkering regions during the first half of 2026. There is no evidence that biofuels themselves have been a primary source of fuel quality incidents or off-specification cases. However, operators still need to carefully manage issues such as cold flow properties, storage stability, compatibility and transparency around blend composition. Biofuel uptake is expected to increase in response to decarbonisation targets, making good fuel management practices and clear information on fuel composition increasingly important.
Source: Lloyd’s Register
