India Bunker Procurement

Bunker Fuel Supplier in India

Seven Ocean supplies marine fuel at 25 Indian ports — the 10 notified major ports (from Paradip on the Bay of Bengal to Kochi on the Arabian Sea) plus 15 major private and regional ports across both coasts. We are independent of any single refiner, which means we source across the major oil marketing companies, a leading Indian refiner, a major private port operator and the independent market to secure the best combination of price, availability and quality for every nomination.

India's Top 10 Bunkering Ports

India's major ports handled 855 million metric tonnes of cargo in FY 2024-25, a 4.3 percent increase year-on-year. Bunker fuel sales at Indian ports reached roughly 1.38 MTPA, with petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) cargo alone making up 29.8 percent of total port throughput. The domestic bunker market is supplied by four dominant physical operators — a mix of state-owned oil marketing companies and a leading private-port bunker operator — who collectively serve roughly 85 percent of commercial bunker volume. The balance is handled by independent traders and regional specialists operating at major anchorages.

Rank #1 · Odisha

Paradip

India's largest major port by cargo throughput, on the Bay of Bengal. Deep 16-m draft accommodates Capesize and VLCC classes. VLSFO, LSMGO, HSFO supply.

East Coast Odisha
Rank #2 · Gujarat

Kandla

Deendayal Port in the Gulf of Kutch — India's second-largest major port and home to the country's first shore-to-ship methanol bunkering trial (April 2025).

West Coast Gujarat
Rank #3 · Maharashtra

JNPT

Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) — India's busiest container gateway, handling ULCV tonnage. VLSFO, LSMGO and HSFO supply.

West Coast Maharashtra
Rank #4 · Andhra Pradesh

Visakhapatnam

Natural deep-water harbour with 16.5-m draft on the Bay of Bengal. Refinery-adjacent supply of VLSFO, LSMGO and HSFO.

East Coast Andhra Pradesh
Rank #5 · West Bengal

Kolkata

Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port on the Hooghly River. Bunker supply for coastal and foreign-going tonnage in eastern India.

East Coast West Bengal
Rank #6 · Maharashtra

Mumbai

India's historic principal port, operating alongside JNPT in Mumbai Harbour. VLSFO, LSMGO and HSFO supply for liner and tramp tonnage.

West Coast Maharashtra
Rank #7 · Tamil Nadu

Chennai

Deep-draft port with 16.5-m alongside capability, a key east-coast container and break-bulk hub. Standard bunker grades supplied.

East Coast Tamil Nadu
Rank #8 · Tamil Nadu

Ennore

Kamarajar Port, just north of Chennai. Hosts the Ennore LNG terminal — enabling arrangeable LNG bunkering alongside VLSFO, LSMGO, HSFO.

East Coast Tamil Nadu
Rank #9 · Tamil Nadu

Tuticorin

V. O. Chidambaranar Port on India's southern tip. Strategic location for vessels on the Indian Ocean trunk route. VLSFO, LSMGO, HSFO supply.

East Coast Tamil Nadu
Rank #10 · Kerala

Kochi

Cochin Port on the Arabian Sea — a major transhipment hub with the ICTT at Vallarpadam. Refinery-adjacent supply of VLSFO, LSMGO, HSFO.

West Coast Kerala

Additional Indian Ports We Cover

Beyond the ten notified major ports, Seven Ocean arranges bunker fuel supply at 15 further Indian ports — including major private terminals (Mundra, Krishnapatnam, Gangavaram, Dhamra, Pipavav, Kattupalli), refinery-adjacent terminals in the Gulf of Kutch (Sikka, Vadinar) and regional gateways across the west and east coasts. Standard grades (VLSFO, LSMGO, HSFO) are supplied at 5 percent GST, with MGO and HSD on request. Lead times, barge availability and physical suppliers vary by port — click any port below for specifics.

West Coast — Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka

Gulf of Kutch · Gujarat

Mundra

India's largest private port and a flagship west-coast bunkering location. Pipeline-fed supply of VLSFO, HSFO, LSMGO and MGO.

Gujarat Gulf of Kutch
Gulf of Kutch · Gujarat

Sikka

Captive port adjacent to a major Indian private refiner. Refinery-direct availability of VLSFO, LSMGO and HSFO.

Gujarat Gulf of Kutch
Gulf of Kutch · Gujarat

Vadinar

Deep-draft crude terminal serving a major private refinery complex. Bunker supply for tanker tonnage calling the Gulf of Kutch.

Gujarat Gulf of Kutch
Saurashtra · Gujarat

Pipavav

Private container and ro-ro port on the Saurashtra coast. VLSFO, LSMGO and HSFO supply coordinated with vessel call windows.

Gujarat Saurashtra
Gulf of Khambhat · Gujarat

Hazira

Multi-user industrial port south of Surat serving containers, LNG and project cargo. Standard bunker grades supplied.

Gujarat Gulf of Khambhat
Gulf of Khambhat · Gujarat

Dahej

LNG terminal and chemical-port hub in the Gulf of Khambhat. VLSFO, LSMGO and HSFO bunker supply arrangeable.

Gujarat Gulf of Khambhat
Mumbai Harbour · Maharashtra

Jawahar Dweep (Butcher Island)

Crude-oil island terminal in Mumbai Harbour feeding the city's refineries. Bunker supply for tankers on turnaround.

Maharashtra Mumbai Harbour
Arabian Sea · Goa

Mormugao

Goa's major port — iron-ore and cruise tonnage plus general cargo. VLSFO, LSMGO and HSFO supply with 5% GST compliance.

Goa Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea · Karnataka

New Mangalore (Panambur)

Karnataka's gateway port on the Arabian Sea. Refinery-adjacent VLSFO, LSMGO and HSFO bunker supply.

Karnataka Arabian Sea

East Coast — Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

Market Structure

The Indian bunker market is supplied by a mix of state-owned oil marketing companies, a major private-port bunker operator, and independent regional specialists. Together these operators cover every top-10 Indian port, with specific regional strengths driven by refinery adjacency — the Gulf of Kutch (Gujarat) has the densest supplier cluster on the west coast, while the Visakhapatnam-Paradip axis anchors east-coast supply. As an independent procurement partner, Seven Ocean sources across all available physical suppliers for every nomination, ensuring competitive pricing without any single-supplier bias.

Fuel Grades Available Across Indian Ports

All top-10 Indian ports supply the standard modern bunker suite:

VLSFO is the dominant product reflecting IMO 2020 compliance on vessels calling Indian ports. LSMGO is available at every port. HSFO volumes have grown through 2024-25 as scrubber-fitted tonnage on Asia-Europe rotations maximised arbitrage economics. HSD and LDO serve inland waterways and smaller coastal vessels.

Tax & Regulatory Context for Bunker Buyers

GST on bunker fuel supplied at Indian ports is 5 percent for both foreign-going and coastal vessels — a rate reduced from the initial 18 percent following the GST Council's 22nd meeting in October 2017. Indian-flag vessels registered under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 plying cargo between two or more Indian ports can claim customs duty exemption on imported bunker fuels under Notification 12/2012-Customs, subject to documentary conditions. Foreign-going vessels receive bonded bunker supply treatment with appropriate certification.

Practical implications for foreign-going vessels: the 5 percent GST is added to the fuel price at invoice. For Indian-flag operators, the customs duty exemption can be a material cost advantage on coastal rotations — the documentary conditions require declaration-cum-undertaking from the vessel Master and Merchant Shipping Act registration proof, which we coordinate with the Customs authority as part of the supply.

Green Fuel Transition at Indian Ports

Indian ports are progressing on alternative marine fuels. Kandla Port completed India's first shore-to-ship methanol bunkering trial in April 2025 in collaboration with industry partners, industry partners, industry partners and a leading oil marketer, validated by an independent third-party verifier. The port is working toward approximately 500 tonnes of methanol availability by 2028-29 for dual-fuel vessels on the Asia-Europe corridor. Biofuel blend trials are underway at several ports, with the major state-owned oil marketing companies actively developing compliant products for the IMO 2050 trajectory.

For operators planning dual-fuel vessel deployment in Indian waters, early engagement matters. Contact us to discuss methanol, LNG or biofuel supply availability at specific Indian ports for your planned rotation.

How to Procure Bunker Fuel at an Indian Port

  1. Nominate: send us vessel name, IMO, ETA, port, anchorage or berth preference, fuel grade(s) and quantity.
  2. Quote: we return with competitive pricing from available physical suppliers, indicative barge/pipeline slot, and terms.
  3. Confirm: on acceptance, we execute the nomination with the selected supplier, port authority and agent.
  4. Deliver: bunker is supplied at anchorage, berth or refinery jetty as scheduled. MFM or calibrated gauging applies. BDN issued MARPOL-compliant.
  5. Settle: invoicing on agreed terms with full GST / customs documentation for your accounting and tax records.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which are India's top 10 bunkering ports?

India's ten major ports by FY 2024-25 cargo volume are Paradip (Odisha), Kandla/Deendayal (Gujarat), JNPT/Nhava Sheva (Maharashtra), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Kolkata-Haldia (West Bengal), Mumbai (Maharashtra), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Kamarajar/Ennore (Tamil Nadu), V. O. Chidambaranar/Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu), and Cochin/Kochi (Kerala). All ten offer bunker supply; the specific fuel grades, delivery methods and physical suppliers vary by port.

What is the GST rate on bunker fuel supplied at Indian ports?

5 percent GST applies on bunker fuel supplied at Indian ports to both foreign-going and coastal vessels. The rate was reduced from 18 percent at the GST Council's 22nd meeting in October 2017 following industry representation. Indian-flag vessels operating under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 plying cargo between Indian ports can claim customs duty exemption on imported bunker fuels subject to documentary conditions.

Who are the main bunker fuel suppliers in India?

The Indian bunker market is served by four major physical suppliers: a leading Indian oil marketing company with approximately 41.6 percent market share, a major private port operator, Hindustan Petroleum (a major Indian oil marketer, 15%), and Bharat Petroleum (a leading Indian refiner, 10%). The balance is served by independent traders and specialised suppliers. All four majors have national distribution networks with refinery-adjacent supply at most top-10 ports.

What fuel grades are available at Indian ports?

VLSFO (ISO 8217:2017 RMG 380, <0.50% sulphur), LSMGO (DMA grade), HSFO (for scrubber-fitted vessels), HSD (high-speed diesel) and LDO (light diesel oil) are available across the top Indian ports. Methanol bunkering capability was validated at Kandla in April 2025 with commercial scale-up targeted for 2028-29. LNG bunkering is arrangeable at Kamarajar Port via the Ennore LNG terminal on a coordinated basis.

How long does it take to arrange bunker supply at an Indian port?

Standard lead time is 4-7 days from nomination to delivery for VLSFO and HSFO at refinery-adjacent ports. LSMGO and HSD are generally available at shorter notice, often 48 hours or less. During peak demand periods (such as monsoon, refinery turnarounds, or rerouting surges), lead times can extend. We recommend confirming barge or pipeline slot 72 hours before the vessel ETA for time-critical stems.

Can Indian flag vessels get tax benefits on bunker fuel?

Indian-flag vessels registered under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 plying cargo between two or more Indian ports (including intermediate foreign port calls) can claim customs duty exemption on imported bunker fuels under Notification 12/2012-Customs, subject to specific documentary conditions. This applies to vessels carrying containerised EXIM cargo, empty containers or both. GST at 5 percent still applies.

Are Indian ports suitable for ULCV and VLCC-scale bunker stems?

Yes. Paradip (16.0-m draft), Vizag (16.5-m), Chennai (16.5-m) and Kandla accommodate the largest commercial vessel classes. JNPT handles ULCV containers. For VLCC-scale bunker stems of 3,000-5,000 MT, advance nomination (7-10 days) is recommended to align barge rotation and product availability with the vessel schedule.

Request a Quote

Ready to nominate? Send your requirement to business@sevenoceanbunkers.com or use the quote form. For fastest response include vessel name and IMO, ETA at the Indian port, fuel grade and quantity, and your preferred anchorage / berth. We respond within the business day.

Request a Quote Global ports →

Need a bunker quote at an Indian port?

Seven Ocean procures marine fuel at all 10 major Indian ports. Tell us the vessel, the port, the grade — we come back with a stem.

Request a Quote Browse India Ports