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:

18 July 2023

• VLSFO and HSFO supply tight in Singapore
• Availability good in weather-exposed Zhoushan
• VLSFO availability improves in South Korean ports

Singapore

Singapore has been seeing average demand so far this week, a source says. Securing HSFO stems can be difficult in the East Asian bunker hub, with recommended lead times going up marginally, from 9-13 days last week to 11-14 days now. Strong bunker demand last week coupled with a shrinking HSFO net import surplus could have contributed to put pressure on the grade.

Availability of VLSFO has been tightening as well, with several suppliers advising lead times of 7-11 days – up from 6-9 days last week. Availability of LSMGO remains good, with short lead times of 4-7 days recommended.

Singapore’s total residual fuel oil stocks have averaged 9% lower so far this month than in June, according to Enterprise Singapore. Singapore’s net fuel oil imports have surged by two-thirds and are at their highest level in more than a year. Both fuel oil imports and exports have risen in July. The port’s fuel oil imports have risen by a massive 75%, and its fuel oil exports have doubled.

Singapore’s middle distillate stocks have averaged 3% lower this month than in June.

East Asia and Oceania

Zhoushan has ample bunker availability amid sluggish demand and weather-related disruptions, a source says. All grades remain readily available in Zhoushan, with short lead times of 2-5 days – virtually unchanged from last week. However, bunker deliveries are still subject to weather conditions.

Bunkering has been suspended by bad weather at the port’s outer Tiaozhoumen and Xiazhimen anchorages since 9 July. Bunker operations are likely to resume at these anchorages later today, when calmer weather is forecast, the source adds.

Terminal operations across ports in the Guangdong and Hainan province in China were suspended as Typhoon Talim made landfall in the city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong province late last night.

Typhoon Talim is forecast to bring rough weather to Hong Kong and possibly disrupt bunker deliveries. Availability remains good across all bunker fuel grades in the port. Some suppliers are offering all grades with lead times of around seven days – almost unchanged from last week.

Meanwhile, availability of VLSFO has improved in South Korean ports, with lead times of 2-6 days recommended now. The grade was subject to enquiry last week.

Some suppliers, who were offering LSMGO and HSFO at lead times of 6-10 days last week, are now providing both grades at shorter lead times of 2-6 days and 3-4 days, respectively.

Adverse weather conditions are predicted intermittently in the South Korean ports of Ulsan, Onsan, Busan, Daesan, Taean and Yeosu between Tuesday and Sunday, which may impact bunker deliveries.

Bad weather is forecast in the Thai ports of Koh Sichang and Leam Chabang, in the Vietnamese port of Ho Chi Minh between 18-25 July, and in the Kiwi port of Tauranga between 21-22 July. All ports face potential delays to bunker operations.

South Asia

Several Indian ports, including Kandla on the northwest coast, and Cochin and Chennai on the southern coast, have good availability of VLSFO and LSMGO, with short lead times of around 2-3 days.

However, supply of both grades remains subject to availability in the Indian ports of Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Paradip as it has been recent weeks. Meanwhile, a source says that both grades remain subject to enquiry in Tuticorin port on the southeast coast and Haldia on the east coast.

Rough weather is forecast in the Indian ports of Kandla and Sikka on 22 July, and Kochi and Visakhapatnam between 18-19 July, which could affect bunker operations.

Strong wind gusts of 21-27 knots and waves of more than two metres are predicted to hit the Sri Lankan port of Colombo between Tuesday and Thursday, which could hamper bunker deliveries. A source says VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains good in the Sri Lankan ports of Colombo and Trincomalee, with prompt dates available.

Middle East

Good bunker demand has put pressure on prompt availability for all bunker fuel grades in Fujairah, with recommended lead times of 5-7 days – unchanged from last week. Some suppliers can offer all grades for spot dates, but these deliveries are subject to stem sizes, a source says.

Availability remains good in the other UAE port of Khor Fakkan, with unchanged lead times of 5-7 days recommended.

LSMGO remains readily available in the Omani ports of Duqm, Sohar, Salalah and Muscat, with prompt dates possible.

By Tuhin Roy

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 19 July, 2023