Why Panama
Panama supplied about 5.1 million tonnes in 2024. Its advantage is the Canal itself: enormous transiting traffic can take fuel on either side without deviation, at Balboa on the Pacific and Cristobal/Colon on the Atlantic. For a ship transiting anyway, bunkering at Panama is as on-route as it gets.
The hubs
Panama — the Canal crossroads
Anchorage bunkering by barge on both coasts, with every mainstream grade. The choice of side is dictated by transit direction and schedule.
The wider Americas
Cartagena (Colombia) serves the Caribbean; on the US side, Los Angeles / Long Beach anchors the US West Coast and Houston and New York the Gulf and East Coast. In South America, Santos (Brazil), Montevideo and Valparaiso cover the east and west coasts.
Operations
Panama bunkering is scheduled around the Canal booking, so coordination between the stem and the transit slot matters. Standard nomination lead times and quality testing apply, and for scrubber tonnage the VLSFO–HSFO spread shapes the grade choice.
What it means for buyers
For any Canal transit, Panama is the obvious fuelling point; elsewhere in the Americas, match the stem to the cargo call. Seven Ocean supplies at Panama and across the region's major ports. See where they sit in the global volume table.
Yes. Fuel can be taken at Balboa on the Pacific side or Cristobal/Colon on the Atlantic side, so a transiting vessel bunkers without deviation. The choice of side depends on transit direction and schedule. It depends on your transit direction and Canal booking. Balboa serves southbound/Pacific-side timing, Cristobal the Atlantic side. Coordinating the stem with the transit slot is the key planning point. Cartagena in the Caribbean; Los Angeles/Long Beach, Houston and New York in the US; and Santos, Montevideo and Valparaiso in South America, among others.Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bunker while transiting the Panama Canal?
Which side of Panama should I bunker?
Where else can I bunker in the Americas?