Business

ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Singapore’s HSFO imports estimated up in May; availability tight in Zhoushan and South Korean ports;
Hong Kong’s VLSFO and HSFO remain tight

Published

4 years ago

May 18, 2022

Admin

The following article regarding regional bunker fuel availability outlook for the East of Suez region has been provided by online marine fuels procurement platform ENGINE for publication on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

17 May 2022

Singapore’s HSFO imports estimated up in May
Availability tight in Zhoushan and South Korean ports
Hong Kong’s VLSFO and HSFO remain tight

Singapore

HSFO remains “super tight” in Singapore. Recommended lead times are up to two weeks. However, a supplier can offer limited deliveries with a shorter lead time of 4-5 days, a trader says.

Recommended lead times for VLSFO are around 10-13 days, while LSMGO has a shorter lead time of 3-6 days.

Some suppliers have stopped sharing organic chloride-detecting GCMS test results, as they have not faced quality concerns lately, a source says. Meanwhile, buyers can get the GCMS testing done on their end.

Swift action by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore regarding chloride contaminated fuel issues has played a part to ease concerns in the market, sources say.

Singapore has been ramping up HSFO imports. According to cargo tracker Vortexa, Singapore has imported 328,000 b/d of HSFO until 12 May, up from 234,000 b/d across April. It projects that HSFO imports will rise to 440,000 b/d for the whole of May.

HSFO cargo inflows from the UAE, Bahrain, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia have helped boost import volumes so far in May.

Singapore’s combined high and low sulphur fuel oil inventories plunged 15% lower in the latest week, while its middle distillate stocks gained weight and bounced off from multi-year lows, according to Enterprise Singapore. Its fuel oil inventories were drawn amid a 17% decline in net imports in the first two weeks of May, compared to April’s weekly average.

The bunkering hub’s total sales in April were roughly steady, but its HSFO sales plunged by 13% as the extent of the contamination issue became clear, according to preliminary figures of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

East Asia

Bunker demand picked up and has remained robust in Hong Kong after quarantine restrictions were lifted, adding more pressure on fuel availability. Recommended lead times for VLSFO are around 5-7 days and HSFO around five days. LSMGO is more readily available for prompt deliveries, sources say.

Availability remains tight in South Korean ports. Two suppliers stopped offering fuel to the bunker market earlier this month. They are not expected to offer much for the rest of the month either, amid low inventories and pressure to cater to domestic fuel demand, sources say. Recommended lead times are around 7-10 days for all grades.

Bunker fuel availability remains tight in Zhoushan across all grades. Some suppliers are out of stock for VLSFO and HSFO, while a few suppliers can offer limited prompt deliveries, sources say. A supplier can offer HSFO with the earliest delivery date from 22 May.

Suppliers in Zhoushan expect availability to remain tight throughout this month, sources say.

In Philippines’ Manila port, LSMGO availability is normal and recommended lead times are around three days, a source says.

South Asia

Bunker fuel availability in India’s Mumbai and Kochi ports is normal. Some suppliers can offer prompt deliveries for VLSFO and LSMGO, a source says.

Bunker deliveries in the Indian ports of Visakhapatnam and Kakinada ports resumed last Friday, allowing suppliers to clear any backlogs. Availability is normal for VLSFO and LSMGO in Visakhapatnam, sources say.

In Sri Lanka’s Colombo, a supplier can offer prompt deliveries for VLSFO and LSMGO, while HSFO remains tight due to a lack of product to supply, sources say. Meanwhile, in Trincomalee, availability is tight across all grades. Some suppliers can offer VLSFO from 23 May at the earliest.

Availability of LSMGO is tight in Bangladesh’s Chittagong, a source says.

Middle East

HSFO availability remains tight in Fujairah and recommended lead times are around nine days. VLSFO and LSMGO availability are slightly better with recommended lead times of six days.

Some suppliers can offer limited prompt deliveries for VLSFO and LSMGO, a trader says.

In Iraqi Basra, availability is normal for VLSFO and LSMGO, sources say. A supplier can offer limited prompt deliveries.

Suppliers in the Omani ports of Duqm and Sohar have normal availability of LSMGO. A supplier can offer prompt deliveries, a source says.

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 18 May, 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

10 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

10 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

10 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