NZ Fuel Stocks Stable, Petrol at 51.2 Days Cover

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Fuel stocks update

Published: 22 April 2026

MBIE publishes the latest information on current fuel stocks every Monday and Wednesday afternoon. Fuel supply remains within normal levels.

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Current fuel stock

Current fuel stock as at 11:59PM Sunday 19 April (as days' cover).

*Totals may not sum due to rounding.

The latest update shows national fuel stocks remain stable with sufficient stock levels across petrol, diesel and jet fuel. Total stocks are lower for all fuel types since the previous update. This is the sort of variation we would expect to see when international shipping is operating as usual, without the current Middle East situation. Movements remain within expectations and show normal patterns.

While the total stock for diesel is down, the stock in country and within our EEZ is almost as high as it has ever been since the Middle East conflict started. There is also a ship currently loading diesel in Singapore and this will be on the way to New Zealand shortly.

We can expect fuel stocks in the country to decline over the next few weeks as fuel tankers are on the way to New Zealand to replenish them. This is normal and is how fuel companies manage their daily business, with fuel distributed around the country and then replenished by incoming imports. Fuel tanks are not kept at 100% capacity all the time.

Data will next be updated on the afternoon of Monday 27 April.

Previous fuel stock

Previously reported fuel stock as at 11:59PM Wednesday 15 April (as days' cover). This data was published 20 April.

| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| In-country | | 29.6 | 19.5 | 28.5 |
| On water within EEZ (up to 2 days away) | 7 | 16.7 | 10.8 | 1.6 |
| On water outside EEZ (up to 3 weeks away) | 6 | 7.7 | 14.6 | 21.3 |
| Total NZ stock* | **** | 54.0 | 44.8 | 51.4 |
*Totals may not sum due to rounding.

Information about this data

MBIE receives twice-weekly updates from fuel importers. This data is cross-checked against shipping information and aggregated to protect commercial confidentiality.

Days’ cover

The average daily fuel demand used by MBIE to calculate days of cover is 8.1 million litres of petrol, 10.7 million litres of diesel and 4.8 million litres of jet fuel.

The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

The Exclusive Economic Zone is a boundary that extends 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) off the coast.

On water within EEZ

Fuel is being unloaded from ships, on board ships at berth but not yet unloading, or on ships moving between ports or entering the EEZ from international waters.

On water outside EEZ

Fuel on ships that have left their port of origin but not yet entered New Zealand waters.

New Zealand is continuing to closely monitor the impacts of the conflict in the Middle East on global fuel markets. While this is a fast-moving situation internationally, fuel supply into New Zealand remains stable, and onshore and incoming stocks are sufficient. There is currently no need for New Zealanders to change how they buy fuel.

It is important to remember that fuel supply is inherently dynamic, with stock levels fluctuating week to week as fuel is consumed and new shipments arrive.

Fuel importers manage their imports in line with demand and minimum stockholding obligations.

More information

Fuel supply disruption response

MBIE media contact

Email: media@mbie.govt.nz

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Last updated: 22 April 2026 https://www.mbie.govt.nz/about/news/fuel-stocks-update
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