Panama Canal bunker prices
PAPCN · PA
Individual prices at Panama Canal
| Grade | USD / MT | Updated |
|---|---|---|
| HSFO | $712 | 2026-10-098d |
| MGO | $1522 | 2026-10-098d |
| VLSFO | $835 | 2026-10-098d |
Not an offer to sell — a firm price exists only once a supplier has quoted.
Indicative only. Typical stem time here is about 8 hours alongside.
Who supplies fuel at Panama Canal
8 of these are on the port authority's register of licensed suppliers. The rest publish their own coverage of this port.
Their bunker desks, or send one request and let the replies come to you.
Taking fuel at Panama Canal
Operational notes, from the port authority and the suppliers’ own published documents. Checked 2026-09-02.
Bunkering in Panama Canal waters is permitted only at ACP-designated anchorages: at the Atlantic terminal, the Merchant Vessel Inner anchorages A, B, D, the Explosive (Dangerous Cargo) Anchorage, and the Cristobal Outer Anchorage (good weather only, with prior ACP authorization and reporting to Cristobal Signal Station); at the Pacific terminal, the Explosive Anchorage. Bunkering elsewhere requires prior ACP approval. Barges must request permission to move between inner and outer anchorages and report start and completion of operations. Pilots anchor all vessels taking bunkers in Limon Bay; Neopanamax vessels may bunker with up to 14.4 m arrival draft, movements in/out of the Inner Anchorage in daylight only, with one tug (second on pilot request), and must shift to the Outer Anchorage after completion. Dockside bunkering from a tank vessel alongside is not recommended and needs case-by-case approval plus signed Form 3821. Panama Canal waters are NOT a SECA/ECA: max 0.5% sulphur without a scrubber; open-loop scrubber discharge is prohibited. Fuel type must be declared via VUMPA. Commercial bunker operators need ACP authorization addressed to the Canal Administrator.
- typical stem/notice time required by suppliers
- truck or pipeline delivery availability
- night bunkering allowed?
- confirmation that listed suppliers hold ACP authorization
Ask the supplier to confirm these before you fix a stem on them.
VLSFO at nearby and alternative ports
| Port | Grade | USD / MT | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| VLSFO | $762 | 2026-09-0146d | |
| VLSFO | $796 | 2026-09-0344d | |
| VLSFO | $796 | 2026-09-0542d | |
| VLSFO | $796 | 2026-09-0740d | |
| VLSFO | $751 | 2026-09-0939d | |
| VLSFO | $751 | 2026-09-1137d |
Not an offer to sell — a firm price exists only once a supplier has quoted.
A lower headline price at another port is not automatically a saving. Deviation burns fuel and charter hire, and a bunker-only call costs port time.
Panama Canal bunkering FAQ
- What is the bunker price at Panama Canal today?
- The table above shows the latest indicative prices at Panama Canal (PAPCN) for each grade we track, updated daily. These are market indications, not offers — the price you pay depends on quantity, delivery window, specification, your payment terms and your credit position with the supplier.
- Is Panama Canal a cheap bunkering port?
- At the last update Panama Canal was showing $835/MT for VLSFO. Whether that is genuinely cheap for your vessel depends on deviation: reaching a port that is $10/MT cheaper is not a saving if it costs a day of charter hire and the fuel burned getting there.
- Does EU ETS apply at Panama Canal?
- Panama Canal is outside the EU/EEA, so EU ETS does not apply to a call here in itself. It may still apply to the voyage legs if your vessel is heading to or from an EU port.