South Africa is being called on to strengthen its bunkering strategy to capture more value from the steady flow of vessels passing along its coastline—many of which currently refuel elsewhere.
Speaking in Cape Town, maritime expert Brian Ingpen highlighted that despite operational improvements at local ports, the country is still missing out on significant bunkering opportunities.
Untapped Potential Along a Busy Shipping Route
Major ports such as Cape Town, Durban, and Algoa Bay have seen upgrades and improved equipment reliability. However, this progress has yet to translate into increased vessel calls.
According to Ingpen, South Africa must actively attract ships to refuel locally rather than allowing them to pass by.
While Algoa Bay has become the country’s primary bunkering hub, False Bay has strong potential to support offshore bunkering operations, particularly for vessels seeking to avoid port congestion.
Strong Economic Upside
The financial benefits of bunkering extend well beyond fuel sales. Each vessel that stops to refuel contributes significantly to the local economy through provisioning, services, and logistics.
Ingpen noted that a single vessel can inject at least R1 million into the economy, excluding fuel purchases. In one recent case, a ship docked in Cape Town spent over R155,000 on eggs alone—highlighting the broader economic activity generated when vessels make port calls.
Additional services such as crew changes, medical support, and resupply further increase economic impact.
Strategic Location, Limited Capture
South Africa sits along one of the world’s busiest maritime routes, with approximately 80 vessels passing near Cape Agulhas daily. Capturing even a small portion of this traffic could significantly boost revenue and port activity.
Recent geopolitical disruptions in the Middle East have temporarily increased traffic around the Cape route, but Ingpen cautioned against relying on this shift as a long-term strategy.
Key Constraints to Address
Despite the clear opportunity, several challenges continue to limit South Africa’s bunkering competitiveness:
- Fuel supply limitations: Many local refineries are no longer operational, creating reliance on imported fuel
- High port costs: Elevated fees for bunkering-only vessels discourage ships from stopping
- Competitive alternatives: Other global bunkering hubs offer more cost-effective and efficient services
Ingpen stressed that reducing port fees for vessels calling solely to bunker could be a critical step in attracting more traffic.
A Missed Opportunity—For Now
Historically, South Africa was a key bunkering destination, with dozens of vessels regularly refuelling at its ports. While modern ships require fewer refuelling stops due to improved efficiency, the current volume of passing traffic still presents a major opportunity.
The challenge now lies in aligning pricing, fuel availability, and operational efficiency to position South Africa as a competitive bunkering hub once again.
If addressed effectively, bunkering could become a powerful driver of growth for the country’s ports, logistics sector, and broader maritime economy.
