Vitol’s bunker vessel Marine ISTA has completed the largest ever bunkering operation at Karachi Port, supplying 4,900 metric tons of marine fuel to MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company vessel MSC Apollo, according to a press release issued on April 13.
The vessel made a bunker-only call at the Karachi Port Trust area.
The record delivery builds on the rapid expansion of Pakistan’s marine bunkering infrastructure over the past year. In November 2025, Marine ISTA had already set what was then the country’s largest very low sulphur fuel oil delivery, with a supply capacity of up to 6,800 metric tons in a single operation.
Additional market momentum came earlier this year when Pakistan formally launched modern marine bunkering services through Vitol at Karachi Port, with plans to supply 500,000 to 600,000 metric tons of marine fuel annually across Karachi Port, Port Qasim, and anchorage areas. The roadmap also targets 70 to 100 bunker operations per month during 2026.
Industry officials say this expanding market could provide a significant boost to Pakistan’s refinery sector by creating a stable domestic outlet for fuel oil production, while also strengthening the maritime economy and positioning Karachi as an emerging regional bunkering hub.
The milestone is also expected to improve vessel turnaround efficiency and enhance Pakistan’s competitiveness as a shipping and transshipment destination in the region.