New Zealand's total fuel stocks fell for petrol and jet fuel but edged up for diesel in the latest Government update.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's twice-weekly fuel stocks report showed the country had 56.2 days of petrol cover, 46.3 days of diesel and 47.7 days of jet fuel as at 11.59pm on Wednesday, May 13.
That compared with 59 days of petrol, 45.2 days of diesel and 50.2 days of jet fuel in the previous update published last Wednesday, which used data collected on May 10.
The drop in petrol of 2.8 days fell just short of the three-day threshold for when part of the criteria for considering a review of fuel phase response levels would be reached.
Total stocks data includes both reserves held in New Zealand, fuel within the country’s exclusive economic zone — such as ships unloading, at berth, or moving between ports — as well as fuel on ships outside New Zealand waters expected to arrive within three weeks.
In-country stocks, which measure fuel physically held onshore in New Zealand, sat at 30.6 days for petrol, 19.9 days for diesel and 27.1 days for jet fuel.
That was a slight increase for petrol from 29.6 days in the previous update, but a drop for both diesel and jet fuel, which had been at 22.3 and 28.4 days respectively.
Diesel's in-country figure of 19.9 days was the lowest recorded since April 15. The in-country jet fuel level fell from its recent high of 34.4 days on May 3 to 27.1 days.
MBIE said the movements reflected normal shipping patterns and routine variation, consistent with what would be expected even without the conflict in the Middle East.
Twelve fuel ships were on the water as of May 13, four within New Zealand's exclusive economic zone and eight further out.
The ministry said fuel continued to flow into the country as expected.
"In normal supply cycles, large shipments arrive, and stocks are steadily used before the next vessels are loaded," MBIE said.
"This results in a pattern of large increases followed by a period of decline."
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