Business

ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Availability remains tight in Hong Kong; Singapore suppliers struggle to offer prompt deliveries; gasoil more available than fuel oils in Zhoushan.

Published

4 years ago

June 1, 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:

31 May 2022

Availability remains tight in Hong Kong
Singapore suppliers struggle to offer prompt deliveries
Gasoil more available than fuel oils in Zhoushan

Singapore

Bunker fuel availability remains tight across all grades in Singapore. Recommended lead times for VLSFO and HSFO are up to two weeks, and LSMGO around 7-10 days.

Some suppliers can offer HSFO for earlier dates, but prompt VLSFO deliveries are difficult to find, sources say.

Singapore’s residual fuel oil stocks have averaged 5% lower in May than in April, and middle distillate stocks 8% lower, according to Enterprise Singapore.

Cargo tracker Vortexa projects that Singapore’s total fuel oil imports could reach 792,000 b/d for the whole of May, which is higher than April’s 647,000 b/d. Inflows from Brazil and Russia are estimated to have surged and made them Singapore’s top two and three import sources. The UAE has retained its place as the top source.

According to the data, high sulphur fuel oil imports will make up nearly 65% of total fuel oil imports in May, while low sulphur fuel oil inflows are down.

East Asia

Bunker demand remains robust in Hong Kong and supply is not keeping up with demand, making lead times more unpredictable, sources say.

Supply dates for all fuel grades remain subject to enquiry in Hong Kong as suppliers struggle to cater to both prompt deliveries and delivery dates further out. Availability is expected to improve in the second half of June as more replenishment cargoes arrive, a source says.

Availability remains tight across all grades in South Korea’s Yeosu, Busan and Ulsan, with recommended lead times of around 7-10 days.

Supply is tight in China’s Zhoushan and Shanghai. Most suppliers are unable to offer HSFO and VLSFO for delivery dates in early June due to a lack of product, sources say.

Some suppliers in Zhoushan can offer VLSFO from 10 June onwards. LSMGO availability is slightly better with some suppliers offering prompt deliveries, sources say.

A supplier in Shanghai is out of VLSFO, adding more pressure on others’ supply, sources say.

In the Philippines’ Manila, LSMGO availability is normal and recommended lead times are around three days, a source says. Bunker demand has been sluggish.

Bunker fuel availability is normal in Port Klang. A supplier can offer limited quantities of VLSFO and LSMGO for prompt dates, sources say.

South Asia

Bunker fuel availability in the Indian ports of Mumbai and Kochi is normal. Some suppliers can offer prompt deliveries of VLSFO and LSMGO, a source says.

In the Pakistani ports of Karachi and Qasim, availability is normal for VLSFO and LSMGO. Only one local refinery is currently producing VLSFO while other refineries could start producing the grade in the coming months, a trader says.

In Sri Lanka’s Colombo, availability is slightly tight across all grades. A supplier has low stocks of VLSFO and LSMGO. Another supplier can offer both grades, but prompt deliveries are made difficult by a busy barge schedule, sources say.

HSFO availability is normal as a supplier has recently received a replenishment cargo, a source says. Port congestion has eased in Colombo to allow for smooth operations.

Middle East

In Fujairah, availability of HSFO is tight for prompt deliveries and recommended lead times are around 10 days. VLSFO and LSMGO grades have shorter lead times of seven days.

Prompt deliveries remain difficult to find in Fujairah forcing some buyers to look out for bunker options in other UAE ports such as Dubai, a source says.

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

VLSFO availability in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah is normal, while LSMGO is slightly tighter, sources say.

Bunker fuel availability is normal in the Omani ports of Duqm and Sohar. A supplier can offer prompt deliveries for VLSFO and LSMGO.

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 1 June, 2022

Legal

Shell Singapore charged over Pulau Bukom oil leaks, reporting delays

Shell faces four charges under Singapore’s Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act over two 2024 oil discharge incidents at its Pulau Bukom facility.

Published

17 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Admin

2 MPA craft (left) supporting Shell craft in the clean up operations of the oil sheens taken on 28 Dec 9am

Shell Singapore has been charged over two incidents in 2024 involving oily mixtures discharged into Singapore waters from its facilities at Pulau Bukom, according to media reports on Tuesday (22 September).

The company faces four charges under the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act, including allegations that it failed to report the discharges to the port master immediately.

The first incident occurred on 20 October 2024, when approximately 40 metric tonnes (mt) of oily mixture was discharged through a hole in a pipeline at the Shell Singapore Energy and Chemicals Park at about 8am.

Shell is accused of reporting the incident to the port master at about 12.55pm, several hours after the discharge occurred.

The second incident took place between 26 and 28 December 2024. An estimated 485kg to 956kg of oil mixture was discharged into Singapore waters from the same facility.

Shell is accused of failing to report the incident immediately, with notification to the port master made at about 11.50am on 26 December 2024, according to the charges.

Singapore’s pollution-prevention regulations require occupiers of such facilities to report oil or oily-mixture discharges into Singapore waters “without delay and to the fullest extent possible”.

Shell’s representative requested an eight-week adjournment at the 22 September hearing, citing the need to obtain internal instructions, appoint counsel and locate historical records. The company said the business associated with the incidents had been divested in 2025.

The case was adjourned to October. Shell is also facing prosecution by Singapore’s National Environment Agency over the same incidents.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 25 September, 2026

Incident

MPA probes Singapore Strait collision involving fishing vessel, bulk carrier

MPA says there were no reported injuries among the crew of either vessel in the incident involving China-registered fishing vessel “Lu Qing Yuan Yu” and Panama-registered bulk carrier “First Margaux” .

Published

17 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Admin

Panama-registered bulk carrier “First Margaux”

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Tuesday (22 September) said it is investigating the incident involving the China-registered fishing vessel Lu Qing Yuan Yu and the Panama-registered bulk carrier First Margaux in the Singapore Strait on 17 September.

MPA said there were no reported injuries among the crew of either vessel or pollution arising from the incident and navigational traffic was not affected.

Videos circulating on social media showed the bulk carrier colliding with the fishing vessel.

“The fishing vessel took on water during the incident but remained afloat and stable, with the crew taking measures to manage the situation onboard,” MPA said.

The vessel was subsequently towed to Raffles Reserved Anchorage for assessment.

Essential crew remained onboard to support the tow, while the Singapore Civil Defence Force supported the transfer of other crew to shore.

MPA added it also issued navigational safety broadcasts to keep other vessels clear of the tow and escorted the vessel into port with a MPA craft.

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Arnold Pohen
Published: 25 September, 2026

Mass Flowmeter

TFG Marine deploys first MFM-equipped bunker barge in Jamaica

Bunker barge “Kingston Trader” is currently on its way to Jamaica following the successful installation of a Coriolis mass flow meter (MFM) system, certified to ISO 22192.

Published

17 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Admin

TFG Marine deploys first MFM-equipped bunker barge in Jamaica

Global marine fuel supply and procurement firm TFG Marine on Thursday (24 September) said its bunker barge Kingston Trader is currently on its way to Jamaica following the successful installation of a Coriolis mass flow meter (MFM) system, certified to ISO 22192.

The company said the latest installation brings the proportion of TFG Marine’s fleet equipped with MFMs to approximately 88%, marking another step in the continued rollout of this technology across its global bunkering operations.

“The barge will operate in Jamaica through our local partnership with Scott Petroleum, becoming the first bunkering vessel in the region equipped with this technology and bringing greater accuracy, transparency and assurance to fuel measurement for customers across the Caribbean,” TFG Marine said in a social media post.

“Together with Scott Petroleum, we look forward to working collaboratively with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, the The Port Authority of Jamaica, Petrojam Limited and other stakeholders to share our experience of MFM technology, explore its wider benefits and support the continued development of bunkering standards across the region.”

Manifold Times previously reported TFG Marine continuing to expand MFM technology across its US Gulf Coast bunker fleet with Buffalo B414 and Buffalo B304 being fitted with the equipment.

Last year, TFG Marine announced it reached a key milestone in its global digitalisation programme with the installation of an ISO 22192-compliant MFM on the Buffalo 404, a barge on time charter from American bunker barge company Buffalo Marine Service Inc.

The installation was part of TFG Marine’s wider strategy to equip close to 90% of its global bunkering fleet with MFMs by 2026 as a commitment towards improving data integrity, streamlining operations and strengthening trust in marine fuel transactions.

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 25 September, 2026