LONDON, March 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Shipping fuel prices have reached "truly unprecedented" levels, having nearly doubled from the cargo crunch driven by the Middle East war, an industry leader told AFP Wednesday. You need to plan ahead as much as possible," Capetanakis told AFP, calling for "calmness and realism" from the shipping industry. Prices for marine or "bunker" fuel are at their highest since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, researchers at HSBC bank said in a report. The IBIA is the global trade association for the marine fuel industry. Shipping companies and freight firms chartering vessels are reportedly adapting to the high fuel prices by ordering ships to slow down to save on fuel, or finding alternative routes and ports to bunker.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha March 18, 2026 16:05 UTC