Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (7 Dec 2023)

Prompt supply tight in Houston; strong bunker demand in New York; VLSFO tight in Rio de Janeiro.

Published

3 years ago

December 8, 2023

Admin

The following article regarding bunker fuel availability in the Americas region has been provided by online marine fuel procurement platform ENGINE for post on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

Prompt supply tight in Houston
Strong bunker demand in New York
VLSFO tight in Rio de Janeiro

North America

Prompt availability is tight for all grades in Houston. One supplier requires lead times of six days to supply VLSFO and LSMGO in the port. Some suppliers have cautioned about potential bunker delays over the weekend due to fog and reduced visibility.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in Bolivar Roads. One supplier requires lead times of five days to deliver both grades.

VLSFO availability is tight for very prompt dates (0-2 days) in the Port of Mobile.

Strong wind gusts are forecast to hit the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) on Friday, with wind speeds forecast to intensify further and touch 48 knots on Sunday. Strong winds could complicate bunker deliveries in GOLA.

HSFO and LSMGO availability is tight in the West Coast ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The earliest delivery date with a supplier for both grades is 18 December. Another supplier can supply LSMGO with shorter lead times of 3-7 days, but is unable to offer HSFO for prompt dates.

LSMGO availability is normal in Port Newark and New Jersey. One supplier requires six days of lead times to deliver the grade there.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in the East Coast port of New York. Overall, bunker demand has been robust in New York so far this week.

Caribbean and Latin America

Availability of LSMGO and VLSFO is good for prompt dates in Balboa. Several suppliers can deliver both grades with lead times of 5-7 days, a source says. However, bunker demand remains slow in Balboa and Cristobal due to fewer vessels transiting the Panama Canal.

The severe congestion in the Panama Canal, caused by reduced transit limits amid drought, has led to ships seeking alternative shipping routes. This has had a knock-on effect on bunker demand in the canal.

VLSFO is very tight in the Chilean port of Valparaiso. One of the major bunker suppliers in the region is running low on stocks, adding supply pressure on others’ supply. The supplier expects to resume offers after replenishment VLSFO cargoes arrive later this week, a source says.

VLSFO availability is tight in the Brazilian port of Rio de Janeiro. Lead times of over 10 days are generally recommended to ensure smooth coverage.

By Nithin Chandran and Debarati Bhattacharjee

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 8 December, 2023

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Biofuel

South Korea: S-Oil launches B30-VLSFO bio bunker fuel supply

Company says it has established an integrated operating system in the Ulsan region covering the entire value chain, from feedstock procurement and blending to supply.

Published

5 hours ago

July 23, 2026

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South Korea: S-Oil launches B30-VLSFO bio bunker fuel supply

South Korean petroleum and refining company S-Oil on Wednesday (22 July) said it has started supplying B30 very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), as the company seeks to support shipping’s decarbonisation efforts and growing demand for lower-carbon bunker fuels.

The company said its B30 VLSFO contains 30% sustainable biofuel blended with conventional VLSFO and can be used without requiring modifications to existing vessels, enabling shipowners to comply more readily with emissions regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Union (EU).

S-Oil said it has established an integrated operating system in the Ulsan region covering the entire value chain, from feedstock procurement and blending to supply. The system combines VLSFO produced at its Onsan refinery with biofuel production facilities and storage infrastructure in the Ulsan region, allowing the entire process to be carried out within a single logistics hub.

According to the company, the integrated supply chain reduces transportation requirements during production while improving supply efficiency and reliability.

S-Oil also highlighted Ulsan Port as a strategic location for marine biofuel supply, noting the port has strong demand for bio-bunker fuels, particularly from car carriers, enabling prompt and stable deliveries to key customers.

An S-Oil official stated: “In the bio-marine fuel market, not only product quality but also securing a stable supply of raw materials and an efficient supply system are important competitive advantages.

“Based on our existing bunkering business capabilities and the excellent supply infrastructure in the Onsan area, we plan to supply stable and competitive low-carbon fuel.”

Photo credit: S-Oil
Published: 23 July, 2026

Bunker Fuel

Panama bunker fuel sales drops by 10.7% on year in June 2026

Total bunker sales at Panama was 385,100 metric tonnes (mt) in June 2026, compared to sales of 431,147 mt during the similar period in 2025.

Published

5 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Admin

Bunker fuel sales at Panama dropped by 11% in June 2026, according to the latest data from La Autoridad Maritima de Panama, also known as the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA).

Total bunker sales at Panama was 385,100 metric tonnes (mt) in June 2026, compared to sales of 431,147 mt during the similar period in 2025.

In June 2026, the Pacific side of Panama posted bunker sales of 311,400 mt; 185,483 mt of VLSFO, 94,997 mt of RMG 380, 2,722 mt for marine gas oil (MGO), and 28,198 mt of low sulphur marine gas oil (LSMGO) were delivered.

The similar region saw total marine sales of 349,996 mt a year before in June; with VLSFO sales at 206,144 mt, RMG 380 sales at 109,432 mt, MGO sales at 3,043 mt, and 31,377 mt of LSMGO being sold.

Panama’s Atlantic side, meanwhile, recorded total bunker fuel sales of 73,700 during June 2026; the figure comprised 62,169 mt of VLSFO, 382 mt of RMG 380, 3,039 mt of MGO, and 8,110 mt of LSMGO.

It saw total sales of 81,151 mt in June a year before; with VLSFO sales of 60,932 mt, RMG 380 sales of 8,335 mt, 2,935 mt of MGO, and LSMGO sales of 8,949 mt.

Photo credit: jhernandezb05 from Pixabay
Published: 23 July, 2026

Bunker Fuel

Antwerp-Bruges biofuel bunker sales drops 36% on year in Q2 2026, LNG down 13.4%

Biofuel recorded 26,833 mt in Q2 2026 with 41,939 mt recorded in the same period the year before while port data showed 76,513 mt of LNG being delivered in Q2 2026, down from 88,328 mt.

Published

5 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Admin

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges recently published bunker fuel sales data for the second quarter (Q2) of 2026.

Total bunker sales at the port was 2.05 million metric tonnes (mt) in Q2 2026, compared to sales of 1.99 million mt (+3%) during the similar period in 2025.

Deliveries of ultra low sulphur fuel oil, very low sulphur fuel oil, high sulphur fuel oil and marine gas oil in Q2 2026 (against on year) recorded respectively 164,987 mt (+43.6% from 114,917 mt), 537,926 mt (+12.8% from 476,746 mt), 659,182 mt (+11.6% from 590,544 mt) and 366,329 (-15.7% from 434,766 mt).

Biofuel recorded 26,833 mt in Q2 2026 with 41,939 mt (-36%) recorded in the same period the year before.

Port data showed 76,513 mt of liquefied natural gas (LNG) being delivered as a marine fuel in Q2 2026, down by 13.4% from 88,328 mt in Q2 2025. Meanwhile, there has been no deliveries of methanol at the port for the year so far.

Photo credit: Port of Antwerp-Bruges
Published: 23 July, 2026