Business

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Bunker purchases complicated by mass volatility and sanctions; US fuel oil inventories tick up before sanctions kick in; prompt fuel tight in multiple Caribbean and South American ports.

Published

4 years ago

March 11, 2022

Admin

Resized Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook image for Manifold Times

The following article regarding bunker fuel availability in the Americas region has been provided by online marine fuel procurement platform ENGINE for post on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

10 March 2022

Bunker purchases complicated by mass volatility and sanctions
US fuel oil inventories tick up before sanctions kick in
Prompt fuel tight in multiple Caribbean and South American ports

Certain suppliers have been hesitant to offer stems in the US Gulf Coast region before they have ruled out majority Russian ownership of vessels, chartering and trading firms involved when fixing stems. The extra due diligence can delay the purchasing process some.

Massive volatility continues to create a difficult pricing environment. Suppliers typically offer firm prices with less than 15-minute validity before reoffering, and price offers can vary greatly between suppliers for the same fuel grade.

Some suppliers have been reluctant to indicate prices before firm enquiries are put forward, limiting the number of price points available.

Bunker availability is tight for prompt dates in the Houston area, where several suppliers’ earliest delivery dates are eight days ahead.

US fuel oil inventories have regained some weight after slumping to near all-time lows a month ago, the latest EIA figures showed this week. The country’s total stocks of residual fuel oil were helped by builds on the East Coast and Gulf Coast in the week to 4 March, while West Coast stocks have held almost unchanged.

US fuel oil inventories remain below their five-year average position at a time when US sanctions on Russian crude and oil products are about to come into effect.

The embargo announced by President Joe Biden this week is set to kick in 45 days after it is signed into law. The US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favour of banning Russian oil imports on Wednesday, a day after Biden’s announcement.

New oil purchases will stop immediately, but US importers have 45 days to complete deliveries.

The embargo is set to have massive repercussions for fuel oil inflows to the US. About a third of fuel oil import volumes that have arrived in US ports so far this year, or is due to arrive by the end of March, have been shipped from Russia, according to cargo tracker Vortexa.

The vast majority of these imports are HSFO (91%) and have mostly departed from Russian ports in the Baltic Sea (70%) and Black Sea (26%).

Almost all of it land on the US Gulf Coast, with the three ports of Good Hope near New Orleans, Houston and Corpus Christi taking around three-quarters of it.

Russian fuel oil is imported to feed complex US refineries that use coker units to upgrade residuals to higher-value distillates like diesel. Other major outlets for imported and domestically produced fuel oil are US and regional bunker ports.

US importers will either need to source more fuel oil from its other top fuel oil sources like Mexico (30%) and Algeria (3%), and low sulphur fuel oil from Brazil, or find alternative sources to make up the import shortfall from places like Iraq.

Fuel availability is already tight across major Central American and Caribbean ports, many of which depend on imports from the US and could feel the pinch if there is less fuel oil available in the US in the months to come.

Bunker schedules are filling up fast in Balboa, even for a week and further out. Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO is still possible to find in Balboa, but at price premiums.

A supplier in Trinidad has been running low on product in wait for resupply. Deliveries off Trinidad have also been delayed by rough weather and choppy seas this week. The earliest delivery dates range between 9-10 days off Trinidad, compared to seven days in port.

The earliest date in Curacao is 11 days out.

VLSFO supply has been tightening for prompt dates at the Argentinian Zona Comun anchorage. Suppliers’ earliest delivery dates range between 6-9 days to 13-14 days. One supplier is not offering while its barge is in dry dock.

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 11 March, 2022

Winding up

Singapore: Notice of intended dividend issued for Xihe Holdings’ subsidiaries

Creditors will need to produce proofs of debt to liquidators of Da Xin Tankers and Nan Chiau Maritime by 5 August, according to Government Gazette notice.

Published

7 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Admin

Two notices to declare the intended dividend of Xihe Holdings’ subsidiaries to their creditors have been posted on the Government Gazette on Wednesday (22 July).

The subsidiaries are Da Xin Tankers Pte Ltd and Nan Chiau Maritime Pte Ltd.

The following are the details of the notices of intended dividend:

Name of Company : Da Xin Tankers (Pte) Ltd (In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)
Unique Entity No. / Registration No. : 198400895W
Address of Registered Office : c/o Grant Thornton Singapore Private Limited, 8 Marina View, #40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1, Singapore 018960
Last Day for Receiving Proofs : 5 August 2026 at 5:00 pm by email to [email protected]
Name of Liquidators : Paresh Tribhovan Jotangia and Ho May Kee
Address : c/o Grant Thornton Singapore Private Limited, 8 Marina View, #40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1, Singapore 018960

Name of Company : Nan Chiau Maritime (Pte.) Ltd. (In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)
Unique Entity No. / Registration No.: 200814296Z
Address of Registered Office : c/o Grant Thornton Singapore Private Limited, 8 Marina View, #40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1, Singapore 018960
Last Day for Receiving Proofs : 5 August 2026 at 5:00 pm by email to [email protected]
Name of Liquidators : Paresh Tribhovan Jotangia and Ho May Kee
Address : c/o Grant Thornton Singapore Private Limited, 8 Marina View, #40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1, Singapore 018960

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 23 July, 2026

Biofuel

South Korea: S-Oil launches B30-VLSFO bio bunker fuel supply

Company says it has established an integrated operating system in the Ulsan region covering the entire value chain, from feedstock procurement and blending to supply.

Published

7 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Admin

South Korea: S-Oil launches B30-VLSFO bio bunker fuel supply

South Korean petroleum and refining company S-Oil on Wednesday (22 July) said it has started supplying B30 very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), as the company seeks to support shipping’s decarbonisation efforts and growing demand for lower-carbon bunker fuels.

The company said its B30 VLSFO contains 30% sustainable biofuel blended with conventional VLSFO and can be used without requiring modifications to existing vessels, enabling shipowners to comply more readily with emissions regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Union (EU).

S-Oil said it has established an integrated operating system in the Ulsan region covering the entire value chain, from feedstock procurement and blending to supply. The system combines VLSFO produced at its Onsan refinery with biofuel production facilities and storage infrastructure in the Ulsan region, allowing the entire process to be carried out within a single logistics hub.

According to the company, the integrated supply chain reduces transportation requirements during production while improving supply efficiency and reliability.

S-Oil also highlighted Ulsan Port as a strategic location for marine biofuel supply, noting the port has strong demand for bio-bunker fuels, particularly from car carriers, enabling prompt and stable deliveries to key customers.

An S-Oil official stated: “In the bio-marine fuel market, not only product quality but also securing a stable supply of raw materials and an efficient supply system are important competitive advantages.

“Based on our existing bunkering business capabilities and the excellent supply infrastructure in the Onsan area, we plan to supply stable and competitive low-carbon fuel.”

Photo credit: S-Oil
Published: 23 July, 2026

Decarbonisation

Yang Ming and PSA to develop integrated sea-land decarbonisation solutions

Both will explore solutions spanning emissions measurement and verification, a digital Book-and-Claim framework, and a joint maritime-land inset token package.

Published

8 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Admin

Yang Ming and PSA to develop integrated sea-land decarbonisation solutions

PSA International (PSA) on Monday (20 July) said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation (Yang Ming) to jointly accelerate the adoption of low-carbon solutions across the maritime value chain.

Beyond emissions measurement and verification, the collaboration will focus on a digital Book-and-Claim framework and a joint maritime-land based inset token package.

“This synergy provides cargo stakeholders with a transparent and accountable sea-land pathway to achieve their decarbonisation targets,” PSA said on its website.

Yang Ming launched the green transport service, EcoSea+. This initiative integrates Yang Ming’s low-carbon navigation capabilities to empower customers with a flexible and transparent strategy to effectively reduce their Scope 3 transportation emissions. By joining forces with PSA, Yang Ming is able to expand the impact of these sustainability actions beyond the ocean.

Building on its position as a global port operator, PSA advances its Node to Network strategy through integrated port and supply chain capabilities that enable a green network of terminal and landside operations to reduce end-to-end supply chain emissions.

The agreement was officially signed by Mr Ivan Chiang, Chief Logistics Officer & Senior Vice President of Yang Ming, and Mr Eddy Ng, Group Head of Operations, Technology and Sustainability of PSA International.

Mr Ong Kim Pong, PSA International Group CEO, said, “As responsible stewards of tomorrow, PSA is committed to delivering sustainable impact across the global port and supply chain ecosystem.

“Tackling the challenges arising from climate change will require the collective efforts of all players in the maritime supply chain sector. We are excited to partner Yang Ming on the decarbonisation of global supply chains and support the transition towards a more sustainable global economy.”

Photo credit: PSA International
Published: 23 July, 2026