Business

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

HSFO tight in ARA and Gibraltar Strait ports; VLSFO supply improves in Ceuta; bad weather disrupts bunkering in Algoa Bay.

Published

3 years ago

June 15, 2023

Admin

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 June, 2023

HSFO tight in ARA and Gibraltar Strait ports
VLSFO supply improves in Ceuta
Bad weather disrupts bunkering in Algoa Bay

Northwest Europe

LSMGO availability has improved in ARA ports this week, with lead times of 3-4 days recommended to ensure full coverage from suppliers, a source says. VLSFO lead times range between 4-7 days.

Securing HSFO for very prompt dates (0-2 days), meanwhile, can be difficult in ARA ports. Availability has been tight for prompt delivery in the ARA in recent weeks, a trader says. Recommended lead times for HSFO are about 5-7 days.

Multiple factors such as the Russian import ban, a sweetening of EU refineries’ crude slates, and the Kurdish export suspension have contributed to tighten of HSFO supply in the ARA hub, a source says.

According to cargo tracker Vortexa, Europe’s crude imports were predominately sour before EU sanctions on seaborne Russian crude imports in December 2022, and refined Russian oil products in February 2023. Russian Urals, a medium-sour crude, accounted for almost 17% of Europe’s seaborne imports in the year before the Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Since the EU banned crude imports from Russia, these slates shifted to sweet and sour grades from alternative countries. About 38% of Europe’s crude imports in May were made up of light-sweet grades, followed by medium-sour (25%) and light-sour (15%), Vortexa data shows. The majority of these imports arrived from the US.

After growing for three consecutive months, the ARA’s fuel oil stocks have come down sharply amid lower import flows so far this month, according to Insights Global data. Most of the fuel oil cargoes have arrived from Mexico, France and the UK this month, Vortexa data shows.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal for delivery off Skaw. On the other hand, HSFO supply is relatively tighter, this is because of limited supply of the grade in the area, a source says. Recommended lead times for all grades remain unchanged at 7-10 days.

Bunker fuel availability is normal in the German ports of Hamburg and Bremerhaven, with recommended lead times of five days.

Mediterranean

VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains in normal in Gibraltar and Algeciras. Lead times of 3-5 days are generally recommended in both locations.

VLSFO supply has improved in Ceuta with the arrival of a replenishment cargo, a source says. Supply was “super tight” last week as a supplier was running low on stocks. A lead time of up to five days is recommended for VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries there.

Prompt HSFO supply is tighter than for low sulphur grades across Gibraltar Strait ports, with lead times of 5-7 days recommended for HSFO now. Some argue that availability of the grade has tightened as a refinery in Gibraltar is operating at reduced rates.

Minimum congestion was reported in Gibraltar, Algeciras and Ceuta on Wednesday, according to port agent MH Bland. Strong wind gusts of up to 23 knots are forecast to hit Gibraltar Bay next Monday, and could delay operations until Tuesday.

Availability is normal in Portuguese ports of Lisbon and Sines, a supplier says. Lead times of up to seven days are recommended for VLSFO and LSMGO supply.

Bunker fuel availability across all grades is tight for very prompt delivery dates off Malta. Some suppliers require at least three days of lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries there, a source says.

HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in the Greek port of Piraeus.

Africa

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in the South African ports of Durban and Cape Town, and at the Algoa Bay anchorage by Port Elizabeth, where lead times of up to seven days are recommended, a source says.

Bunkering was fully suspended in Algoa Bay on Wednesday due to rough weather conditions, according to Rennies Ships Agency. Strong winds and heavy swells are forecast to continue until Thursday, which could cause further delays and disruptions.

By Nithin Chandran

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 15 June, 2023

Legal

Singapore withdraws remaining 127 charges against Hin Leong founder OK Lim

Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges on 17 July.

Published

16 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Founder of collapsed oil trader Hin Leong Trading, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, has had the remaining 127 charges against him withdrawn, according to The Straits Times on Monday (20 July).

OK Lim was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges, including those for cheating, on 17 July. The discharge means Lim cannot be prosecuted again for the same offences.

Lim, 84, is currently serving a 13½-year prison sentence after the High Court reduced his original 17½-year jail term in March 2026. He was convicted in 2024 on two cheating charges and one count of abetting forgery in a case prosecutors described as one of Singapore’s most serious trade finance frauds.

Lim was convicted in May 2024 of two charges of cheating the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and one count of abetting forgery that proceeded to trial out of a total of 130 criminal charges.

He was first charged in court on 14 August 2020, and was subsequently handed further charges in court on 25 September 2020, 30 April 2021 and 24 June 2021 for his role in perpetuating fraud on various financial institutions.

A total of 130 charges were eventually brought against him for cheating and forgery-related offences.

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Coastal Logistics was reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Published

17 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Several resolutions for Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary general meeting held on 14 July, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (4 July).

The following resolutions were duly passed during the meeting:

As Special Resolution

That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and accordingly the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018);

As Ordinary Resolutions

that Mr. Wong Pheng Cheong Martin and Ms. Koay May Yee, both care of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, One Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583 be appointed as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up; and
that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit; and
that a Committee of Inspection will not be formed.

Manifold Times previously reported Nicholas James Gronow, director of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping and Coastal Logistics, filed statutory declarations for both companies stating the firms cannot continue their businesses due to liabilities.

Both companies were reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

In 2019, several vessels owned by both firms entered the sale & purchase (S&P) market in Singapore.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Published

17 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post.

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026