The Strait of Gibraltar is a globally important shipping lane.
The main activity is bunkering with over four million tonnes of heavy petroleum fuel (bunker fuel) delivered each year (based on 2011).
Gibraltar claims to be amongst the largest Mediterranean bunkering ports.
Approximately 60% of the 10,000 vessels who stopped at Gibraltar in 2011 were bunkered.
Increased competition from Algeciras in 2022 resulted in a fall to around 3.4m tonnes.