Further detail:

MBIE – Latest NZ Fuel Stocks

MBIE receives twice-weekly updates from fuel importers. This data is cross-checked against shipping information and aggregated to protect commercial confidentiality.

Shipping

Fuel companies reported there were 10 fuel ships on the water as at 11:59 pm Sunday 3 May, either within New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (up to two days away) or outside the EEZ (up to three weeks away).

Some vessel movements can be viewed through publicly available Automatic Identification System (AIS) ship-tracking services. These are generally most reliable when vessels are operating in or near coastal waters, where ground-based receivers provide stronger coverage and ships are closer to ports. Further offshore, AIS coverage relies on satellite data, which can be delayed or intermittent and is often restricted or unavailable in free or open-source tracking services.

As a result, free ship-tracking tools usually only display vessels close to shore and may show limited information, such as only the next port of call (for example Fiji), even where this is just a stopover on the way to New Zealand. AIS data also does not confirm a vessel’s cargo, and reported routes and timings can change due to weather, port congestion, or loading and unloading requirements. While helpful as a reference, publicly available AIS data does not provide a complete, consistent, or verified picture of fuel supply movements.

On water within EEZ 

• CC Ningbo
• Esteem Endeavor
• Grand Winner 3

On water outside EEZ

• Esteem Discovery
• Gem Emerald
• Maersk Crete
• Pacific Sunstone
• Sea Odyssey
• Sea Orca
• STI Virtus

It is important to remember that this is a snapshot at a point in time. Ships are usually on the move and shipping schedules can change frequently due to weather, port congestion and the time it takes to load and unload fuel.

MBIE does not publish ship level consignment details because fuel importers have told us this is commercially sensitive and provided in confidence. Protecting this confidentiality ensures we continue to get the most detailed system-wide information possible. This allows us to monitor the fuel supply as New Zealanders expect.

Days’ cover

The average daily fuel demand used by MBIE to calculate days of cover is:

• 8.1 million litres of petrol
• 10.7 million litres of diesel
• 4.8 million litres of jet fuel

The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

The Exclusive Economic Zone is a boundary that extends 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) off the coast.

On water within EEZ

Fuel is being unloaded from ships, on board ships at berth but not yet unloading, or on ships moving between ports or entering the EEZ from international waters.

On water outside EEZ

Fuel on ships that have left their port of origin but not yet entered New Zealand waters.

Commercial disclaimer

MBIE endeavours, to the best of its knowledge and ability, to ensure the data is accurate. However, MBIE does not warrant that the data is current, accurate, or complete. The data may be changed, deleted, added to, or otherwise amended at any time as new information becomes available.

New Zealand is continuing to closely monitor the impacts of the conflict in the Middle East on global fuel markets. While this is a fast-moving situation internationally, fuel supply into New Zealand remains stable, and onshore and incoming stocks are sufficient. There is currently no need for New Zealanders to change how they buy fuel.

It is important to remember that fuel supply is inherently dynamic, with stock levels fluctuating week-to-week as fuel is consumed and new shipments arrive. Changes in stock levels reflect normal patterns rather than supply disruption.

Fuel importers manage their imports in line with demand and minimum stockholding obligations. Fuel companies are providing immediate updates to officials if they are made aware of disrupted supply, and there have been on reports of material issues with future shipments.

International events can create uncertainty, but New Zealand’s fuel supply system is designed to operate reliably under a range of global conditions. In the short term, New Zealanders can be confident that we have the fuel we need to keep people, goods and essential services moving.