ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (2 May 2024)

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:

• Demand rises in Houston
• Tight availability in West Coast ports
• Very prompt availability is tight in New York

North America

Bunker demand has picked up in Houston and several other ports along the US Gulf Coast this week after subdued demand in the previous week.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability have remained good in Houston. Some suppliers can deliver both grades with lead times of more than seven days. Prompt HSFO supply is tight and lead times of 8-9 days are recommended for the grade.

Prompt supply of VLSFO and LSMGO is also available in Bolivar Roads and Beaumont. However, bunker deliveries there are subject to weather conditions and availability of anchorage space, a source says.

Demand has risen in Pascagoula this week and some suppliers can deliver LSMGO stems with a lead time of 3-4 days.

The Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) was experiencing strong wind gusts of up to 30 knots on Thursday, which is likely to disrupt bunker operations at the anchorage.

Demand has improved in GOLA this week, and several suppliers are offering stems for prompt dates.

All grades are tight for prompt delivery dates in the West Coast ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Most suppliers require more than seven days of lead time to deliver VLSFO and LSMGO stems in the ports. Securing HSFO can be even more difficult, as only a few suppliers offer the grade.

Very prompt VLSFO and LSMGO availability is tight in the East Coast port of New York. This is mainly due to the strong demand for both fuel grades in the port.

The Port of Baltimore has announced that the Fort McHenry Limited Access Channel will be reopened to a depth of 45 feet on 10 May. The deeper channel will facilitate the passage of commercial essential vessels during specified hours between 20.00–07.00 local time (00.00–11.00 GMT). But it remains unclear whether the reopening of this channel will help boost bunker demand.

Caribbean and Latin America

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal in Panama’s Balboa and Cristobal. Several suppliers are recommending lead times as early as three days, a source says. Securing HSFO is also possible, but with a longer lead time of about 5-6 days.

Prompt availability of VLSFO and LSMGO remains normal off Trinidad and in Jamaica’s Kingston.

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is good for very prompt dates in the Bahamas’ Freeport.

Overall, demand has been very low in Freeport this week.

In Argentina’s Zona Comun, the availability of VLSFO and LSMGO has tightened again, despite calmer weather conditions this week. Several suppliers are only able to offer stems with lead times of 10-12 days.

Bunker fuel availability has remained tight in the Brazilian ports of Santos and Rio Grande. Some buyers are avoiding bunkering in these ports because of the longer lead times quoted by suppliers.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 3 May 2024