Automated trucks transport containers as cargo ships are loaded and unloaded at the Jintang port area of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, Zhejiang province, on April 6. [Photo/IC]

Zhoushan in Zhejiang province ranked as the world's third-largest marine fuel bunkering port in 2025, moving up from fourth place, according to rankings released at the ninth Interregional Petroleum and Natural Gas Enterprises Conference on Oct 22.

Zhoushan supplied 8.54 million metric tons of marine fuel in 2025, up 9.4 percent year-on-year. Singapore and Rotterdam retained the top two positions, followed by Zhoushan, Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium, and Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.

Zhoushan first entered the global top 10 in 2018, climbed to eighth in 2019, fifth in 2021, and fourth in 2024.

Since the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone was established in 2017, Zhoushan's bonded marine fuel bunkering volume has grown from approximately 1.83 million tons to 8.03 million tons, reaching 4.4 times its original level.

The number of licensed bunkering operators has increased from five to 24, including State-owned, private, and foreign-invested companies.

Zhoushan is also expanding into cleaner marine fuels, including liquefied natural gas, methanol, and ammonia.

On Oct 13, the port completed what was described as the world's first ship-to-ship green ammonia bunkering operation at Xiushan East Anchorage, supplying 1,000 tons of green ammonia to Mineral Europa, an ammonia-powered bulk carrier owned by Belgian shipping group CMB Tech.