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ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Sluggish demand in Zhoushan; availability good in several Indian ports; several ports face weather disruptions.

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ENGINE East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

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 January 2023

  • Sluggish demand in Zhoushan
  • Availability good in several Indian ports
  • Several ports face weather disruptions

 

Singapore

Singapore continues to see steady bunker demand and pressure on VLSFO availability, which has supported the port’s VLSFO price levels compared to other East of Suez ports. Lead times of 11-13 days are recommended for the grade in Singapore – almost unchanged from last week.

Lead times for HSFO have come down to 9-12 days this week, from almost two weeks out previously. LSMGO remains readily available with the shortest expected lead times of 4-6 days.

Residual fuel oil stocks in Singapore have averaged 2% higher in the first two weeks of January than in December, according to Enterprise Singapore. Net fuel oil imports have risen 30% so far this month, and are at a six-month high in support of stock levels.

Singapore’s middle distillate stocks have grown by 17% over the same period, helped by steady inflows.

 

East Asia

Zhoushan has been grappling with persistent seasonal weather disruptions since the onset of winter. Bunker operations in Zhoushan’s outer port limits (OPL) area resumed Monday evening after a weather-induced five-day suspension, according to White Whale Shipping Agency.

The weather disruptions have led ships to pile up in wait for bunkers for sustained periods in Zhoushan.

Sluggish demand and persistent weather-related disruptions have weighed on the Chinese bunkering hub’s VLSFO price. Suppliers have been compelled to price the grade at lower levels than other major Asian hubs to attract demand. Availability of the grade remains good in the port, with lead times remaining unchanged at 3-5 days.  

Recommended lead times for HSFO are 5-7 days in Zhoushan – similar to last week. LSMGO remains readily available with shorter lead times of 2-3 days.

Upcoming Chinese New Year holidays from 21-27 January will mean more muted bunker activity in the country’s ports as most suppliers will not take new orders during that period, sources say.

A bad weather forecast for next weekend coupled with the Chinese New Year Holidays might dampen demand further in Zhoushan in the coming week.

Meanwhile, the lead-up to the Chinese Lunar New Year has stimulated healthy demand for all grades in Hong Kong and contributed to tighten availability. Lead times of around seven days are advised for all fuel grades in the port as most deliveries are subject to barge availability.

Wind gusts of 19-22 knots and waves of more than a metre are forecast in Hong Kong over the weekend, which might impact bunker operations.

Recommended lead times for all grades vary greatly in South Korea ports, with the shortest estimated at four days and the longest at nine days.

Bad weather might hamper bunker operations across South Korean ports of Ulsan, Onsan, Daesan, Taean and Yeosu in the latter part of the week.

The Thai ports of Koi Sichang and Leam Chabang are likely to experience adverse weather conditions from tomorrow onwards, which may hamper bunkering in the coming days.

Bad weather conditions are predicted across the Vietnamese ports of Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong later this week, which may disrupt stem deliveries.

 

South Asia

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO remains good in India’s Mumbai, with prompt dates available.

VLSFO and LSMGO can be delivered with around 2-3 days of lead time in several Indian ports, including Kandla on the northwest coast, and Cochin and Chennai on the southern coast, Visakhapatnam on the southwestern coast and Haldia on the eastern coast.

A supplier in Mundra has run out of stocks, while availability in Tuticorin remains subject to enquiry.

Suppliers in India’s Kandla, Sikka, Mundra and Bedi are grappling with bunker backlogs, which are anticipated to ease after 22 January, a source says.

Prompt dates for LSMGO are available in the Sri Lankan ports of Colombo and Trincomalee.

Colombo has been plagued with weather disruptions in recent weeks. Intermittent spells of adverse weather are forecast in the coming days, forcing suppliers to deliver stems only when the weather permits, a source says.

 

Middle East

Demand remains sluggish while availability is good in Fujairah, a source says. Recommended lead times for VLSFO have come down further to four days, from seven days last week.

Lead times for LSMGO remain unchanged at five days in the UAE port, while lead times for HSFO have come down to six days, from eight in the past week.

LSMGO remains readily available in Duqm, Sohar, Salalah and Muscat in Oman.

By Tuhin Roy

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 18 January, 2023

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Winding up

Singapore: High Court to hear Norvic Shipping Asia winding up application on 31 July

Application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to Government Gazette notice.

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RESIZED singapore high court

An application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to a Tuesday (21 July) notice on the Government Gazette.

It noted the winding up application is directed to be heard before the Judge sitting in the General Division of the High Court at 10am on 31 July.

Any creditor or contributory of the company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the winding up application may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose.

A copy of the winding up application will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the company requiring the copy of the winding up application by the solicitors of the applicant’s, Oon & Bazul LLC, on payment of the regulated charge for the same.

The Applicant’s address is Hiridostraat 5, Gebouw Prismatrium, 1101CW Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The Applicant’s solicitors are Oon & Bazul LLC of 103 Penang Rd, #04-04/05/06 Singapore 238467. 

Queries on the winding up application may be directed to the following email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Methanol

World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to “Arctic Tern” via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel “M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan”.

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World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Marine fuel provider World Fuel on Tuesday (21 July) said it successfully completed the first green methanol bunkering of M/V Arctic Tern, with EUKOR Car Carriers and SIPG Energy at the Port of Shanghai. 

Arctic Tern is the first vessel in the new Shaper Class series of car carriers. 

The operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to Arctic Tern via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, the largest vessel of its kind in operation. 

The bunkering operation was carried out at Haitong Terminal, Waigaoqiao Port Area, Shanghai Port, with cargo handling operations conducted simultaneously during bunkering.

This marks EUKOR Car Carriers’ first green methanol operation and the first time Arctic Tern has bunkered methanol since its delivery on 9 July. The operation marked the first bunkering at Shanghai Port of green methanol produced locally in Shanghai for an international PCTC operator. 

It also demonstrated the city’s integrated green methanol value chain, spanning local production, storage and bunkering, and established a replicable “Shanghai Model” for green methanol supply.

World Fuel arranged the supply and delivery of the fuel on behalf of EUKOR Car Carriers, working with SIPG Energy as the physical supplier at the Port of Shanghai.

The green methanol supplied was produced from municipal solid waste, ISCC-EU certified, and had a carbon intensity value below 25 gCO₂e/MJ.

Arctic Tern is the first of fourteen Shaper Class vessels ordered by Wallenius Wilhelmsen. With a capacity of 9,300 car equivalent units and methanol dual-fuel capability, the vessel will be operated by EUKOR Car Carriers, jointly owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Hyundai Motor Group. Following her first green methanol bunkering, Arctic Tern will continue her maiden voyage from Asia to Europe.

Xavier Leroi, COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen and CEO of EUKOR Car Carriers, said: “Completing Arctic Tern’s first green methanol bunkering shortly after delivery is a significant milestone towards our decarbonisation ambition for both EUKOR Car Carriers and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. It demonstrates how investments in next-generation vessel technology and fuel flexibility are being translated into real-world operations. 

“This achievement reflects the strong collaboration between all parties involved. Together, we have shown how partnerships across the maritime value chain can help make lower-emission fuels available and operationally viable at scale.”

Mark Tamsitt, SVP Global Marine Sales at World Fuel, said, “The first bunkering event with a new fuel is a significant moment for any shipowner, and our role is to make it as seamless as possible. By connecting EUKOR Car Carriers with SIPG Energy’s proven green methanol capability at the Port of Shanghai, we were able to deliver on reliable supply, fuel quality, and safe processes. As more of our customers bring methanol dual-fuel tonnage into service, we are committed to being the partner that makes these kinds of operations routine.”

Mr. Zhang Da, General Manager of SIPG Energy, said, “Welcoming Arctic Tern to the Port of Shanghai for her first green methanol bunkering demonstrates the strength and maturity of our supply capability. Building on our well-established methanol ship-to-ship bunkering services for container vessels, we have already extended such services to pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs). This bunkering sets a new record for the largest single SIMOPs green methanol bunkering for PCTCs in China, marking another step in building Shanghai’s position as a global green energy hub for international shipping.”

This operation follows Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s announcement on 9 July that Arctic Tern would complete her first methanol bunkering shortly after delivery. The vessel entered service on routes between Asia and Europe immediately following handover from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing.

 

Photo credit: World Fuel
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Ammonia

HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

HPA says the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

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HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and integrated energy company MB Energy on Tuesday (21 July) said they have completed a comprehensive risk analysis and developed a dedicated safety concept for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering.

MB Energy said the analysis lays the groundwork for the safe introduction of ammonia as a future marine fuel.

“With our planned ammonia import terminal in Hamburg-Blumensand, MB Energy intends to provide the reliable land side supply infrastructure needed to support this transition across northern German ports,” it said in a social media post. 

Mabanaft Group was renamed to MB Energy last year and merged over 50 existing brands under one identity. 

Separately, HPA said the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

“The focus is in particular on container ships, cruise ships as well as RoRo and ConRo (Container/RoRo) ships,” it said. 

“We expect ammonia to establish itself as an alternative marine marine fuel in the coming years. With our preparatory work, we are already creating the conditions to welcome the first ammonia-powered ships in Hamburg and to bunker them safely.:

HPA added that the import terminal for ammonia planned by MB Energy from 2029 will make a decisive contribution to ensuring the reliable availability of ammonia as a bunker fuel in northern German ports in the long term. 

“The use of an ammonia bunker barge is considered a possible addition to the landside infrastructure to enable ship bunkering in the port and beyond in the future,” it said.

Related: Mabanaft Group renames as MB Energy, merging over 50 brands under one identity

 

Photo credit: Hamburg Port Authority
Published: 22 July, 2026

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