Fuel stocks down, one ship delayed - and more delays likely - in fuel stock update

Wednesday, 15 April 2026

Fuel stocks dropped for the second consecutive time in the bi-weekly update out on Wednesday afternoon, and the departure of one small shipment bound for New Zealand has been delayed.

But it is still not cause for “immediate concern”, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) said in a statement.

The data released on Wednesday shows a decrease across all fuel types since the last update on April 13.

Overall, New Zealand has 56.3 days of petrol available, 45.4 days of diesel and 47 days of jet fuel, as at 11.59pm on Sunday April 12.

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This compares with 59.7 days of petrol, 49.1 days of diesel and 50.7 days of jet fuel in the previous update.

MBIE acknowledged it was the second consecutive update with drops in total fuel stock, but said the changes did “not raise any immediate concerns”.

A small shipment had been delayed. This was because as some countries had closed their export facilities, more vessels are using Singapore as their primary loading hub - leading to congestion and delays.

“The fuel companies have confirmed that supply chains continue to operate, although these types of delays are likely to become more common,” MBIE said.

“Current fuel levels are broadly in line with normal levels before recent global disruptions, and fuel supply remains normal.”

Data will next be updated next Monday, April 20.

More about the data

There have been various concerns and questions put to the Government recently about what some consider a paucity of data about fuel coming into the country, especially when New Zealand’s response is compared to those in other countries.

There has also been some confusion about what it means for fuel to be “on the water”. Under law, only fuel that is within New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone is counted as being part of the country’s stockpile, but the MBIE data also counts what may have just been loaded or still nearer its original port.

Jacqui Ellis, MBIE’s general manager of data, insights and intelligence told The Post the the number of ships “on water” in the agency’s fuel stocks update is based on both the information provided by suppliers and the confirmed position at the reporting cut‑off.

For example, at the last update, nine ships with fuel had been outside New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone (up to about three weeks away) and five within it (up to about two days away).

More detailed information is considered commercially confidential.

“The information fuel importers provide us also includes forward cargo plans and detailed shipping information outside these timeframes, giving the Government a system-wide view of planned fuel supplies,” Ellis said.

“This information is shared with us in confidence by fuel companies to support government decision‑making. It is provided on the understanding it will be kept confidential.”

MBIE only published data about shipments which are confirmed and en route to New Zealand, given forward import and shipping schedules were inherently fluid, she said, reliant on cargo source, choice of vessel, weather, port congestion, and loading/unloading rates .

“Three weeks is currently a good estimate of the duration of any journey from the jurisdictions that supply New Zealand’s fuel importers, hence that timeframe being reflected in the data.

“There are more ships expected in May, and these will be reflected in MBIE's published figures as they leave port.”