Connect with us

Business

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Russian fuel oil flows into the ARA again, Gibraltar Strait grapples with weather disruptions; bunker supply normal in Algoa Bay and Durban.
Admin

Published

4 years ago

on

post 55350

The following article regarding Europe and Africa bunker fuel availability has been provided by online marine fuel procurement platform ENGINE for post on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

14 December 2022

  • Russian fuel oil flows into the ARA again
  • Gibraltar Strait grapples with weather disruptions
  • Bunker supply normal in Algoa Bay and Durban

 

Northwest Europe

Bunker fuel availability is said to be normal for all fuel grades in the ARA hub, with several suppliers offering prompt deliveries of LSMGO in the region. Recommended lead times for LSMGO and VLSFO in Rotterdam are 3-4 days, while HSFO requires around 5-6 days, sources say.

The ARA’s independent fuel oil stocks have averaged 1% higher so far this month than in November, according to Insights Global data. Stocks have increased despite signs of a drop in net imports. Meanwhile, Russia has once again emerged as the top fuel oil import source for the region in December.

According to cargo tracker Vortexa, Russia has accounted for 37% of total fuel oil inflows to the ARA so far in December. This is the first time since August that Vortexa has picked up a Russian fuel oil cargo arrival in the ARA. Other sources of fuel oil imports to the region this month have included the UK, Finland, France, Denmark, Poland and Germany.

The ARA’s average gasoil stocks have also increased this month, but remain far below their five-year average position. This comes as gasoil imports to the region have increased by a significant 274,000 b/d over November levels. Russia remains the top gasoil import source for the ARA.

Strike action at BP’s Rotterdam refinery ended last week, which is set to further boost bunker fuel supply in the ARA, according to sources. The strike had left BP’s 393,800 b/d nameplate capacity at Rotterdam refinery idled for nearly two weeks.

Supply of VLSFO and LSMGO is said to be normal off Skaw, requiring lead times of around seven days, a source says. Prompt availability of HSFO is tight and may require longer lead times, the source adds.

 

Mediterranean

Key ports in the Gibraltar Strait are facing weather-related disruptions this week. Bunker fuel supply across all grades is said to be normal in the region, but adverse weather conditions could delay deliveries there, sources say.

Suppliers are working to clear bunker backlogs in Gibraltar after bunkering resumed from a one-day suspension on Wednesday. All suppliers experienced delays on Wednesday due to bad weather, according to port agent MH Bland. 18 vessels were waiting to bunker in the port.

Suppliers in Algeciras and Ceuta have also been struggling to deliver stems due to adverse weather conditions. Anchorage bunkering has been suspended in Ceuta on Wednesday. Weather is forecast to remain rough in Ceuta until Saturday, which could cause more delays.

Meanwhile, bunker operations are running normally in other regional bunker locations such as Malta, Las Palmas and Tenerife. All ports and one in six bunkering areas off Malta were operational on Wednesday morning, Seatrans Shipping agency says.

With Gibraltar, Algeciras and Ceuta facing weather-related disruptions, bunker calls are expected to rise in other ports in the Gibraltar Strait and wider Mediterranean region, sources say. An average of eight vessels have arrived to bunker in Malta each day this week, which is almost the same as last week.

With robust demand in Malta this week, securing prompt deliveries of VLSFO and LSMGO can be difficult there, a source says. Prompt delivery prospects for the two grades are expected to improve from next week, the source adds.

Bunker fuel supply is also steady in Las Palmas, sources say.

And in the Greek port of Piraeus, availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is said to be normal, a source says.

 

Africa

Suppliers are working to clear bunker backlogs in Algoa Bay as bunkering resumed on Wednesday after being suspended for two days, Rennies Ships Agency says. Four vessels were waiting to bunker at anchorage and 14 more are scheduled to arrive in Algoa Bay and Port Elizabeth for bunkers this week, Rennies says.

Bunker supply is steady in South Africa’s Durban and Algoa Bay. Recommended lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries in Durban are around seven days, a source says.

Prompt supply of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal in Mozambique’s Nacala, a source says. Four vessels are due to arrive for bunkers in Nacala this week. Suppliers can offer prompt delivery of LSMGO in nearby Maputo, while VLSFO availability is said to be tight this week, the source adds.

By Shilpa Sharma

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 15 December, 2022

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Winding up

Singapore: Annual general meetings scheduled for Xihe Holdings subsidiaries

Annual general meetings of companies/creditors will be held electronically from between 21 July to 5 for 11 subsidiaries of Xihe Holdings.

Admin

Published

15 hours ago

on

July 7, 2026

By

Resized benjamin child

Several notices were published on the Government Gazette on Tuesday (26 May) regarding the annual general meetings of the companies and creditors to be held electronically from between 21 July to 5 August for 11 subsidiaries of Xihe Holdings. 

Annual general meetings for Xin Dun Shipping are to be held on 21 July at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 4pm

Annual general meetings for Xin Ya Shipping are to be held on 24 July at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 3pm

Annual general meetings for Xin Chun Shipping are to be held on 21 July at the following times:

  • For the company: 2pm
  • For the creditors: 3pm

Annual general meetings for Nan Sia Maritime are to be held on 24 July at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 2pm

Annual general meetings for Nan Hai Maritime are to be held on 23 July at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 3pm

Annual general meetings for Hua Xin Shipping are to be held on 4 August at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 3pm

Annual general meetings for Hua Kang Shipping are to be held on 23 July at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 2pm

Annual general meetings for Hua Gang Shipping are to be held on 4 August at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 2pm

Annual general meetings for Hua An Shipping are to be held on 22 July at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 4pm

Annual general meetings for Dong Fang Shipping are to be held on 22 July at the following times:

  • For the company: 2pm
  • For the creditors: 3pm

Annual general meeting for Nan Ya Maritime is to be held on 5 August at the following time:

  • For the company: 2pm

The agenda for all the meetings are:

  • To receive an update on the liquidation.
  • To receive an account of the Liquidators’ acts and dealings, and of the conduct of the winding up.

The following are the details of the liquidator: 

Ho May Kee
Liquidator
c/o 8 Marina View
#40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1
Singapore 018960

 

Photo credit: Benjamin Child
Published: 7 July, 2026

Continue Reading

Methanol

CRI delivers world’s largest e-methanol reactor to Liaoyuan project in China

First phase of the project has a production capacity of 170,000 mt of renewable methanol annually, supporting demand for low-carbon fuels in shipping, chemicals, and other sectors.
Admin

Published

15 hours ago

on

July 7, 2026

By

CRI delivers world’s largest e-methanol reactor to Liaoyuan project in China

Carbon Recycling International (CRI) has recently delivered the largest of its kind e-methanol reactor for the Liaoyuan E-Methanol Project in Jilin Province, China. 

CRI, a company that develops and deploys technology that converts carbon dioxide emissions into renewable methanol, said the delivery and successful installation of CRI’s proprietary methanol converter reactor is a major construction milestone. 

“The project continues to progress according to plan toward commissioning and start-up later this year,” it said. 

The Liaoyuan project is being developed by CRI’s client Tianying Group (CNTY) and once commissioned will become the largest e-methanol facility in operation globally. 

The first phase has a production capacity of approximately 170,000 metric tonnes (mt) of renewable methanol annually from green hydrogen and captured biogenic carbon dioxide, supporting the growing demand for low-carbon fuels in shipping, chemicals, and other sectors seeking practical and scalable pathways to decarbonisation.

The methanol converter reactor forms the core of CRI’s proprietary Emissions-to-Liquids (ETL) technology. Designed and supplied by CRI, the reactor is where renewable hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide are converted into renewable methanol through the company’s proven industrial-scale process. It has been specifically designed and constructed with operational flexibility as a key feature and represents the third generation of CRI’s e-methanol reactor design.

The successful installation represented a significant construction milestone and marked the transition to the final stages of project execution.

“The installation of the methanol converter reactor is an important milestone for both Tianying and CRI,” said John Milner, Project Manager at Carbon Recycling International. 

“The reactor is the core of our ETL technology and embodies nearly two decades of innovation, engineering development, and commercial operating experience. Seeing this equipment installed at one of the world’s most ambitious renewable energy projects is a proud moment for our team and a major milestone as the Liaoyuan facility advances toward commissioning and start-up.”

CRI’s technology is already deployed at commercial scale at the company’s reference plants in Anyang and Lianyungang, and the Liaoyuan project represents the next step in the continued deployment of carbon recycling technology to support the production of renewable fuels and chemicals.

 

Photo credit: Carbon Recycling International
Published: 7 July, 2026

Continue Reading

Business

Bunker Oil inks four-year bunker fuel supply deal with Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency

Framework agreement, which entered into force on 1 July, is for the supply of fuel to vessels belonging to the Navy, Coastal Hunter Command, Coast Guard and Governor of Svalbard, among others.
Admin

Published

15 hours ago

on

July 7, 2026

By

Bunker Oil inks four-year bunker fuel supply deal with Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency

Norwegian marine fuel supplier Bunker Oil on Friday (3 July) said it has signed a new four-year framework agreement with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency for the supply of marine fuel.

The fuel will be supplied to vessels belonging to the Navy, the Coastal Hunter Command, the Coast Guard, the Governor of Svalbard, the Norwegian Coastal Administration, the Institute of Marine Research and the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, among others.

The new agreement entered into force on 1 July, following the expiry of the current agreement on 30 June 2026. 

The agreement covers the delivery of fuel from Bunker Oil’s plants, tankers and tankers along the entire Norwegian coast – from Kirkenes in the north to Egersund in the south.

The company said Bunker Oil’s strong presence along the coast has been a decisive factor. 

“The authorities have signalled increased activity and presence from the Navy and the Coast Guard in the waters off Troms and Finnmark,” the company said.

“With large facilities in Kirkenes, Båtsfjord, Honningsvåg, Hammerfest and Tromsø, in addition to several smaller facilities, Bunker Oil is well equipped for increased activity in the High North. The facilities in Tromsø, with their proximity to Olavsvern, will be particularly important during the agreement period.”

The deliveries will vary in size – from a few thousand litres for the Coastal Ranger Command’s smaller vessels, to several hundred cubic metres for the Navy’s other fleet.

The contract’s financial framework is estimated at NOK 1.2 to 1.5 billion (USD 122.59 million to USD 153.24 million), and the agreement will have a major impact on activity at Bunker Oil’s facilities along the entire coast.

A renewal of the Navy’s fleet is also underway, and Bunker Oil said it is looking forward to supplying fuel to the new vessels as well.

“We look forward to four more years as a supplier of fuel to the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency,” said Tore Slinning, contract manager at Bunker Oil.

“The agreement is of great importance to Bunker Oil, in addition to the fishing fleet, which is still by far our largest and most important customer group.”

 

Photo credit: Bunker Oil
Published: 7 July, 2026

Continue Reading

Trending