Disclosed is a valve needle for a needle valve of a slurry fuel injector valve, the valve needle comprising: a tip for abutting a needle valve seat of the needle valve; a sealing portion for location in a bore of the needle valve; and a fuel chamber portion between the tip and the sealing portion, wherein the fuel chamber portion is for location in a needle fuel chamber of the needle valve; wherein a surface of the sealing portion of the valve needle comprises at least one groove and wherein at least part of the or each groove extends in a direction that is non-perpendicular to an axial direction of the valve needle.