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ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Fuel oils remain tight in Singapore; demand improves in Zhoushan; 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:

21 March, 2023

  • Fuel oils remain tight in Singapore
  • Demand improves in Zhoushan
  • Several ports face weather disruptions

 

Singapore

Bunker demand has been average in Singapore over the past two weeks, sources say. VLSFO and HSFO availability remains tight for prompt stems in the port, with lead times of 7-9 days recommended – almost the same as last week.

LSMGO availability is normal in the port. Lead times of 3-5 days have barely changed since last week.

Singapore’s residual fuel oil stocks have averaged 3% lower in the first two weeks of March, despite a 5% increase in net imports, according to Enterprise Singapore. Both imports and exports are up this month. While imports have risen 12%, exports have surged by 28% to a five-month high.

Meanwhile, the port’s middle distillate stocks have swelled by 20% on the month.

 

East Asia

China’s low sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) output rose by over 4% in February compared to January, according to JLC data. Several refineries hiked daily production rates on prospects of recovering demand, but production margins remained weak amid falling VLSFO prices.

Meanwhile, China has imported less fuel oil so far this month on a daily average (b/d) basis than in February and January, Vortexa data shows. This points to less reliance on fuel oil imports as domestic refineries have been ramping up crude runs. Higher crude runs tend to yield more residual fuel oil as a by-product.

Recommended lead times for VLSFO delivery in Zhoushan are similar to last week’s 3-5 days. According to Vortexa data, the Chinese bunkering hub is scheduled to receive a VLSFO replenishment cargo on 24 March. HSFO lead times are similar to last week in Zhoushan, at six days, while LSMGO availability has improved and the grade is now available prompt.

Bunker operations in Zhoushan could be suspended by thick fog forecast in the Daishan sea area from Tuesday evening to Wednesday, a source says.

Strong wind gusts of 19-24 knots and waves of more than a metre are forecast to hit Hong Kong on 27 March, which might disrupt bunker operations.

Availability across all three fuel grades remains normal in Hong Kong, with lead times of around seven days – almost same as in the past couple of weeks.

South Korean ports have been seeing weak demand so far this week. Recommended lead times across grades in southern and western South Korean ports have remained virtually unchanged at 4-8 days since last week.

Rough weather is forecast intermittently between 23-26 March in the South Korean ports of Ulsan, Onsan, Daesan, Taean and Yeosu, which might hamper bunkering.

Both the Thai port of Koi Sichang and the Vietnamese port of Hai Phong are forecast to experience adverse weather conditions on 23 March, and Ho Chi Minh City between 26-28 March.

 

South Asia

VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains good in India’s Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Kandla, with short lead times of 2-3 days.

Cochin and Chennai on the southern coast of India also have good availability of both the grades, while VLSFO and LSMGO remain subject to enquiry in Tuticorin and Haldia. A supplier in Paradip is almost out of VLSFO.

However, bad weather might disrupt bunkering in India’s west coast ports of Kandla and Sikka between 23-24 March, a source says.

A supplier can offer both VLSFO and LSMGO in the Sri Lankan ports of Colombo and Trincomalee, with prompt dates available.

 

Middle East

Availability remains okay in Fujairah amid low demand, a source says. Lead times for VLSFO in the UAE port have come down marginally, from around seven days last week to six days now. Six days ahead are now advised for LSMGO, up from five days last week.

HSFO has tightened slightly, with seven days of lead time now typically required, up from six.

By Tuhin Roy

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 22 March, 2023

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Winding up

Singapore: Xihe Holdings subsidiaries to be wound up voluntarily, creditors to submit claims

Creditors of Da Zhong Tankers and Xin Ying Shipping are required on or before 17 July 2026 to send in their names and addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to appointed liquidators, says notice.
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June 19, 2026

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Xihe Holdings Pte Ltd subsidiaries Da Zhong Tankers Pte Ltd and Xin Ying Shipping Pte Ltd will voluntarily wind up following resolutions that were passed by written means, according to a Government Gazette notice published on Thursday (18 June).

The resolutions set out below were duly passed:

  • SPECIAL RESOLUTION – WINDING-UP

That the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018.

  • ORDINARY RESOLUTION – APPOINTMENT OF LIQUIDATORS

That Paresh Tribhovan Jotangia and Ho May Kee of Grant Thornton Singapore Private Limited, 8 Marina View, #40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1, Singapore 018960 be and are hereby appointed as joint and several liquidators to conduct the said winding-up and that their remuneration be fixed on the usual scale of their professional charges for the work involved.

  • SPECIAL RESOLUTION – POWERS OF LIQUIDATORS

That the liquidators of the Company be authorised to exercise any of their powers given by section 177, 144 (1) and (2) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 and to distribute to members, in specie, any part of the assets of the Company.

In another notice, the liquidator of the company said creditors are required on or before 17 July 2026 to send in their names and addresses with particulars of their solicitors (if any) to liquidator Paresh Tribhovan Jotangia at Grant Thornton Singapore Private Limited, 8 Marina View, #40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1, Singapore 018960. 

The liquidator may require creditors or their solicitors to “come in and prove their said debts or claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice or in default thereof, they will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such debts are proved.”

Related: Singapore: Additional Xihe Holdings subsidiaries to be placed under judicial management

 

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 19 June, 2026

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Winding up

Singapore: Liquidator of Parakou Shipping issues notice of dividend

Second and final dividend to admitted creditors of Parakou Shipping is payable by 14 July, according to Government Gazette notice.

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June 19, 2026

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A notice of dividend for Parakou Shipping Pte Ltd, which is currently in voluntary liquidation, was published on the Government Gazette on Thursday (18 June). 

The following are the details of the notice:

Name of Company : Parakou Shipping Pte Ltd (In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)
Address of Registered Office : c/o KordaMentha, 50 Raffles Place, 25-01 Singapore Land Tower, Singapore 048623
Amount per centum : 0.55 per centum of admitted claims (in accordance with the Order of Court HC/ORC 4175/2024)
First and Final or otherwise : Second and Final Dividend to admitted creditors (in accordance with the Order of Court HC/ORC 4175/2024)
When payable : By 14 July 2026
Where payable : c/o KordaMentha Pte Ltd, 50 Raffles Place, #25-01 Singapore Land Tower, Singapore 048623

Related: Singapore: Notice of intended dividend issued for Parakou Shipping Pte Ltd

 

Photo credit: Benjamin Child
Published: 19 June, 2026

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Alternative Fuels

MOL inks bio-LNG bunker fuel supply deals with Titan and Axpo for car carriers in Europe

Titan, part of Amsterdam-based Molgas, will continue to supply bio-LNG fuel in Northwest Europe, while Axpo will take charge of supply in the Mediterranean region.
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June 19, 2026

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MOL inks bio-LNG bunker fuel supply deals with Titan and Axpo for car carriers in Europe

Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) on Thursday (18 July) said it has signed new supply agreements in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean region to expand the use of bio-LNG marine fuel on MOL-operated LNG-fuelled car carriers.

Titan, part of Amsterdam-based Molgas, will continue to supply bio-LNG fuel in Northwest Europe, while Axpo will take charge of supply in the Mediterranean region.

MOL said the agreement makes it possible for its company to supply bio-LNG fuel for automobile carriers in the Mediterranean region, specifically Port of Malaga and Barcelona in Spain, following the bio-LNG fuel supply agreement in Western Europe, which commenced in March last year.

The bio-LNG fuel to be supplied in this initiative has a lifecycle carbon intensity (carbon dioxide emissions per unit of energy consumption) of -15 g-CO2/MJ or less, from production through consumption. Furthermore, this bio-LNG fuel has obtained International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC-EU). 

“Through this supply agreement, MOL has established a framework that ensures a continuous and stable supply of bio-LNG fuel not only in Northern Europe but also in the Mediterranean,” the company said.

As part of the group’s efforts to adopt alternative fuels and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it is utilising LNG-fuelled vessels as a bridge solution to facilitate the transition to carbon-neutral fuels such as bio-LNG and synthetic LNG (e-methane).

In 2025, MOL signed a bio LNG fuel supply agreement in Northwest Europe with Titan, part of the Molgas, and MOL has continued this bio LNG fuel supply agreement with the same company in 2026 as well.

 

Photo credit: Mitsui OSK Lines
Published: 19 June, 2026

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