The Ports That Keep the World Moving: Where Diesel, Gasoline and Kerosene Flow

Enerdealers Editorial

In global energy markets, attention often gravitates toward oil fields, refineries or geopolitical flashpoints. Yet far from the headlines, a quieter — but equally decisive — layer of the system keeps the world moving: ports.

Ports are where energy becomes trade. Every tonne of diesel bunkered, every cargo of gasoline redistributed, every litre of kerosene loaded for aviation passes through a handful of strategic maritime hubs. Over the past five years, marked by the pandemic, regulatory shifts and changing trade routes, these ports have proven to be remarkably resilient — and increasingly strategic.

This article looks at the ten ports that dominate global handling of diesel, gasoline and kerosene, how their role has evolved between 2020 and 2025, and why they remain critical for energy markets heading into 2026 and beyond.

Ports as the Pulse of Energy Trade

Unlike upstream production or refining capacity, port activity reacts almost instantly to market shifts. When shipping slows, volumes drop. When trade reroutes, ports adjust. When regulation tightens, blending tanks and storage terminals become strategic assets.

Between 2020 and 2025, three forces reshaped port activity:

• The IMO 2020 regulation, which accelerated demand for low-sulphur fuels and marine gasoil

• The post-pandemic recovery of global trade, uneven but ultimately strong

• The growing integration of marine fuels, aviation kerosene and refined product logistics

The result was not a uniform growth story, but a rebalancing of roles between Asia, Europe and key transit hubs.

Who Handles the World’s Energy Products?

The table below compares the top 10 global ports handling energy commodities, measured in million metric tonnes per year (Mt/y). Volumes include fuels supplied through bunkering, storage, import/export and redistribution.

Top 10 Global Ports Handling Energy Commodities (2024)

Diesel, Gasoline & Kerosene – Million Metric Tonnes per Year

Rank	Port	Total (Mt/y)	Diesel / MGO	Gasoline	Aviation Kerosene	Main Role
1	Singapore	54.9	21.5	8.7	6.9	Global bunkering & trading hub
2	Rotterdam	9.8	4.1	2.6	1.8	Europe’s refined gateway
3	Fujairah	7.5	2.3	1.1	0.7	Middle East refueling
4	Zhoushan	7.3	2.6	1.4	0.9	China bonded bunkering
5	Antwerp-Bruges	6.5	2.8	1.9	1.1	Inland EU distribution
6	Busan	6.2	2.4	1.3	1.4	East Asia liner hub
7	Hong Kong	5.7	2.1	1.0	1.2	Bunkering & aviation
8	Panama Canal Ports	5.1	1.9	0.9	0.8	Transit refueling
9	Gibraltar	4.8	1.8	0.8	0.6	Mediterranean chokepoint
10	Shanghai	4.1	1.6	1.5	1.3	Coastal & international trade

Editorial note: Ports do not publish full product-level breakdowns. The product split shown here reflects industry-standard estimates, commonly used by traders, analysts and port authorities.

What the Numbers Reveal

A few patterns stand out clearly.

Singapore operates on a different scale altogether. Its dominance is not just about volume, but about liquidity, optionality and flexibility. It is where physical supply, financial trading and price formation converge.

European ports such as Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges remain pillars of refined product logistics, particularly diesel and gasoline. Growth has been modest, but value per tonne has increased through blending, compliance and storage services.

Asian ports show the strongest momentum. Zhoushan, Busan and Shanghai illustrate how shipping, refining and aviation demand are increasingly intertwined.

Transit hubs like Panama and Gibraltar remain indispensable — not because of size, but because of geography. Their business is steady, operationally intense and highly sensitive to margins.

From Shock to Stability: 2020–2025

The last five years tell a story in three distinct acts, each shaped by global disruptions, energy demand shifts, and the strategic responses of port authorities and terminal operators.

2020–2021: The Shock of Collapse

The COVID-19 pandemic hit global trade hard, and energy commodities were no exception. Diesel, gasoline, and kerosene volumes plummeted worldwide, with some ports recording declines of 20–35% year-on-year. International shipping slowed dramatically, while refinery shutdowns and national lockdowns reduced both supply and demand.

Ports with heavy reliance on transshipment and marine fuel bunkering—like Singapore and Fujairah—felt the impact acutely, as international cruise, cargo, and aviation activity ground to a near halt. Meanwhile, ports with flexible storage capacity managed to buffer the immediate shock, temporarily absorbing excess inventory and mitigating financial losses.

2022–2023: The Sharp Rebound

By 2022, global energy demand began recovering. The pent-up industrial and transport demand triggered a strong rebound in product volumes. Ports saw double-digit growth, particularly in diesel and gasoline, as supply chains rerouted to bypass bottlenecks caused by lingering pandemic restrictions and geopolitical events.

European ports such as Rotterdam and Antwerp benefited from resurgent intra-EU trade, while East Asian ports like Zhoushan and Busan saw surges in container-related fuel handling. Crucially, ports that had invested in blending infrastructure and flexible storage could handle more diverse product mixes, capturing margins from arbitrage between regional price differentials.

2024–2025: Return to Stability with Greater Complexity

By 2024, the global energy trade entered a phase of relative stability, but not simplicity. Volumes stabilized near pre-pandemic levels, yet market dynamics had shifted:

• Product complexity increased, with heavier reliance on marine gasoil, low-sulfur fuels, and refined blends.

• Geopolitical influences—such as sanctions, trade agreements, and regional refinery expansions—introduced new operational constraints.

• Diversification became a competitive edge, with ports handling wider product ranges, integrating LPG, jet fuel, and specialty fuels into their storage and distribution networks.

Ports that had invested early in advanced blending, storage, and flexible logistics weathered these years best. Singapore maintained its dominance, leveraging massive storage and sophisticated bunkering systems, while Houston strengthened its export-oriented model, supporting Gulf Coast refineries and U.S. diesel flows. Other ports, such as Gibraltar and Panama, carved out strategic niches in chokepoints and transit hubs, benefiting from targeted operational resilience rather than sheer volume.

Key Lessons for the Industry:

1. Infrastructure investment pays off: Terminals with capacity for storage, blending, and flexible handling fared far better than those focused on single products.

2. Product diversification reduces vulnerability: Ports that handled multiple refined products, from diesel to kerosene, could pivot quickly in response to trade shocks.

3. Market intelligence is critical: Navigating evolving supply chains and regional price differentials became as important as physical capacity.

The 2020–2025 period, therefore, reflects not just volatility, but a process of structural adaptation, setting the stage for 2026 and beyond, where ports will compete not only on volume but on agility, resilience, and integrated service offerings.

Conclusion: Why Ports Still Matter

In an energy world shaped by geopolitics, regulation and transition, ports remain the physical anchors of global trade. They are where strategy meets reality — where contracts become cargoes, and markets become movement.

For traders, refiners and logistics players, understanding these hubs is not optional. It is essential.