Bunker‑fuel price spike adds ₣15 per ton to shipping costs

Effective 6 September, the federal import duty on foreign bunker‑fuel rose by 8%, pushing the average price for low‑sulphur fuel to ₣215 per ton, a 12% increase from the previous week. Shipping line representative Hiro Tanaka of Pacific Marine Logistics said the hike adds roughly ₣15 per ton to each vessel's operating budget.

"We will adjust our freight rates modestly to absorb the cost, but the increase will be reflected in the next quarterly schedule," Tanaka told the Herald at the port’s fuel depot. The Port Authority expects the price rise to be temporary as domestic refiners scale up production.