Panama Canal 2025 Marine Fuel Sales Rise With Increased Vessel Traffic

Total marine fuel sales at the Panama Canal in 2025 were reported around 5.3 million metric tons, the highest annual total since 2019 when volumes totaled 5.35 million mt and predated the rollout of the 2020 lower sulfur standards, according to data released Tuesday by the Panama Maritime Authority.

Total VLSFO sales in 2025 were about 3.4 million mt, about 315,000 mt higher than 2024, and the highest level since 2022 when levels were about 3.47 million mt.

RMG 380 sales were down slightly last year, while low sulfur marine gasoil volumes saw some uptick, which could indicate buyers continuing the shift to lower sulfur options.

RMG 380 sales last year were over 1.3 million mt, down about 176,000 mt from 2024 levels.

Low-sulfur marine gasoil total sales in 2025 were 521,847 mt, about 109,000 mt more than last year and the highest level reported, according to available data. The next highest annual sales for LSMGO came in 2022 at 483,159 mt.

Total bio-bunker sales were reported to be 4,721 mt in 2025, the first year the global waterway started to report the data.

The total number of ships bunkered at the Canal in 2025 was 7,466 vessels, 770 more than the 2024 total and the most since 2022 when the total was 7,546 ships.

The Panama Canal also reported 12,091 ocean-going vessels last year, 1,649 vessels more than 2024, and the most since 2022 when the total was 12,959 vessels. The 2024 traffic was hampered by a drought that started in late 2023 and flowed into the following year and caused a drop in ship movements.

Reporting by Eric Wieser, ewieser@opisnet.com; Editing by Tom Sosnowski, tsosnowski@opisnet.com and Michael Kelly, mkelly@opisnet.com