Fuel shipments to New Zealand slow
- Sydney (27 April)
Refiners have slowed their planned petrol, diesel, and jet fuel deliveries to New Zealand, just under two months into the now-dormant US-Israeli war in Iran, data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) show.
Ships carrying about 16 days’ worth of petrol, 19 days’ worth of diesel, and 21 days’ worth of jet fuel will arrive in New Zealand over three weeks from 22 April, MBIE said on 27 April. This is down from the 21 days’ worth of petrol, diesel, and jet fuel that refiners had planned to deliver over the three weeks beginning on 19 April.
New Zealand’s on-land petrol stockpile increased between 19 April and 22 April, from 31 to 36 days’ worth of fuel, despite the drop in planned deliveries. The country’s diesel holdings also remained stable at 22 days’ worth of fuel over that period, while its jet fuel reserves fell from 26 to 25 days’ worth of fuel, MBIE said.
Refiners in Singapore – the second-largest source of New Zealand fuel – cut their petroleum output by 20% on the year in March, data from the Singapore Economic Development Board show. Over half of the country’s crude oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran closed in late February.
New Zealand and Singapore negotiated an Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies in October 2025, including a pledge not to impose export restrictions on fuel, medical, and construction products, according to New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The two countries have not formally signed the deal. But New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong agreed to abide by it before Christmas, Luxon told reporters on 15 April.
New Zealand is at Stage 1 of its 2026 Fuel Response Plan, which indicates that fuel markets are functioning effectively but prices are increasing. The country will move to Stage 2 if the Government sees signs of significant supply disruptions.
New Zealand unleaded 91 octane petrol and diesel prices averaged NZ$3.28/litre (A$2.70/litre) and NZ$3.36/litre, respectively, on 27 April, up from around NZ$2.53/litre and NZ$1.87/litre in late February, data from price monitor Gaspy and MBIE show.
The New Zealand Government is preparing for fuel supply disruptions. It plans to adjust heavy vehicle and electric vehicle rules to curb diesel use if the country moves to Stage 2 of the response plan, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Regulations Minister David Seymour said on 27 April.
The Government is getting ready to remove some route and weight restrictions for heavy vehicles, Bishop and Seymour said. It may also decrease licence class weight thresholds for heavy electric vehicles, they added. Reducing licence class weight thresholds will allow more heavy vehicle drivers to operate electric vehicles.
By Avinash Govind