Geopolitics are likely to play an active role in determining how much shipping consumers will pay for their bunkers this year.

It is expected to be a volatile year, with added pressure from refineries scaling back on high-sulphur fuel oil as they prepare for the low-sulphur environment due to begin in January 2020.

Volatility has become a constant feature of bunker prices in recent years as events across the globe have had an impact on crude oil prices.