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ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (22 May 2024)

Availability is normal in the ARA; subdued bunker demand off Malta; VLSFO runs dry in Nacala and Maputo.
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RESIZED ENGINE Europe and Africa

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:

  • Availability is normal in the ARA
  • Subdued bunker demand off Malta
  • VLSFO runs dry in Nacala and Maputo

Northwest Europe

Bunker fuel availability is normal in Rotterdam and in the wider ARA hub. Lead times of 3-5 days are recommended to ensure full coverage from suppliers, a trader said. These lead times are roughly unchanged from the previous week.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have averaged 4% higher so far this month than across April, according to Insights Global data. Higher imports have helped boost fuel oil stocks in the ARA. The region has imported 340,000 b/d of fuel oil so far this month, up from 252,000 b/d of fuel oil imported in April, according to data from cargo tracker Vortexa.

Nigeria has emerged as the ARA’s biggest fuel oil import source so far this month, accounting for 13% of the region’s total imports. Algeria and Lithuania have ranked second, each accounting for 12% of the total imports. Other import sources have been the UK (11%) and Denmark (10%).

The ARA hub’s independent gasoil inventories — which include diesel and heating oil — have increased by 8% so far this month.

The port staff and dockers’ unions in the French ports of Saint-Nazaire and Montoir have called for industrial strike action for periods this week and the next, according to GAC Hot Port News. These strikes are planned for this Thursday, as well as next Monday and Wednesday. Each strike is expected to last four hours daily and could impact bunkering in these ports.

Bunker fuel availability is normal in Germany’s port of Hamburg. Prompt delivery dates are available for all bunker grades in the port, with lead times of 3-5 days advised by a trader.

Off Skaw, very prompt supply can be tight, while supply is relatively better for non-prompt delivery dates. A trader recommends lead times of 7-10 days for all grades. Adverse weather is forecast off Skaw on Wednesday and Thursday, which may complicate bunkering in the area.

Mediterranean

Availability is normal across all grades in Gibraltar. Most suppliers can offer prompt delivery dates for all grades in the port, with short lead times of 2-4 days generally recommended for all grades in the port, according to a trader. Seven vessels were waiting for bunkers in Gibraltar on Wednesday, down from eight on Tuesday, a source said.

The weather forecast predicts calm conditions for the remainder of the week, which could potentially ease congestion in Gibraltar.

Bunker fuel availability is normal in the Canary Islands’ port of Las Palmas. Lead times have stayed consistent since last week, with traders advising 4-6 days for all grades. But weather disruptions are expected in the area starting next Tuesday, which may hamper bunkering.

Bunker demand has been very quiet in other Mediterranean ports like Piraeus, Malta Offshore and Istanbul, a trader said, adding that demand has been very limited in these ports.

Availability is good in the Greek port of Piraeus, according to a trader. Lead times of 3-4 days are recommended for all bunker grades in the port. Adverse weather is forecast to hit the port on Thursday, which may impact bunkering.

Off Malta, bunkering was proceeding smoothly on Wednesday amid normal weather conditions. Bunker fuel availability is good there, a trader told ENGINE. Lead times of 3-4 days are advised for all grades.

Bunker fuel availability is good in Istanbul, a trader said, with lead times of 3-4 days advised for all grades. Calm weather is forecast for the rest of the week, allowing bunkering to take place normally.

Africa

Availability is normal in the South African ports of Richards Bay and Durban for VLSFO. Lead times of 7-10 days are recommended by traders for optimal coverage in both ports. The earliest delivery date for VLSFO in Durban with one supplier is 1 June a source said.

LSMGO availability is normal in Durban. A trader advises similar lead times of 7-10 days for the grade in the port. Strong wind gusts of up to 25 knots are forecast in Durban on Sunday, which could hamper bunkering. Also, rough weather may impact bunkering in Richards Bay.

Prompt VLSFO supply is dry in Mozambique’s port of Nacala amid high demand for the bunker grade, a source said. HSFO supply has also tightened in the port. On the other side, LSMGO supply is relatively better compared to HSFO and VLSFO. Demand for LSMGO has been largely steady.

Like Nacala, high VLSFO demand has caused supply shortages for prompt supply in Maputo. LSMGO demand has been stable in the port, with good supply available, a source told ENGINE.

By Manjula Nair

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 23 May 2024

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Singapore: Ofiniti, ONE trial direct platform integration to streamline bunker workflows

Ofiniti started a trial in Singapore, integrating FuelBoss directly with a bunker buyer’s own platform, with Ocean Network Express as its first buyer-side integration partner.

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Ofiniti, the digital platform for maritime fuel operations, on Tuesday (21 July) said it has started a trial in Singapore, integrating FuelBoss directly with a bunker buyer’s own platform.

The company announced Singapore-headquartered container shipping firm Ocean Network Express (ONE) as its first buyer-side integration partner. 

“It is no coincidence we start in Singapore, as the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) remains at the forefront of digitalisation of all things bunkering,” the company said in a social media post.

In November 2023, MPA launched its digital bunkering platform, becoming the world’s first port to implement e-BDN. 

Ofiniti said every bunker delivery still runs on retyped data. 

“The buyer’s system says one thing, the supplier says another, and someone reconciles the gap by email, phone, or PDF. On every stem,” the company said. 

“We built FuelBoss to change this reality.”

With the integration, operational data now flows without manual re-entry, fewer reconciliation errors and faster processing and data, instead of documents, are readily available for procurement and claims workflows. 

“One connection will not transform the industry on its own, but digitalisation gets built one integration at a time. We are grateful to ONE for being willing to go first,” Ofiniti added.

Manifold Times previously reported ONE completing its successful trial of the electronic Bunker Delivery Note (e-BDN) with Shell. 

The e-BDN trial, using the digital bunkering solution developed by Angsana Technology, was conducted on 9 September 2023 at the Port of Singapore, with support from the MPA.

In March 2025, Ofiniti acquired Singapore-based Angsana Technology, with the entire Angsana team joining Ofiniti as part of the acquisition.

Related: MPA Chief Executive: Port of Singapore begins digital bunkering initiative today
Related: Singapore set to become first port in the world to debut electronic bunker delivery notes
Related: ONE completes e-BDN adoption trial with Shell in Port of Singapore
Related: Ofiniti acquires Singapore-based Angsana Technology to advance digital bunkering solutions

 

Photo credit: Ofiniti
Published: 22 July, 2026

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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. 

 

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CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

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CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

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The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028 and will support Sinopec’s efforts to expand its presence in the marine clean energy sector.

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s LNG bunkering infrastructure.

With this signing , CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering’s LNG bunkering vessel orderbook is further strengthened, maintaining its leading position in the global market for small and medium-sized LNG bunkering vessels.

The contract also marked another milestone for CIMC SOE, which has seen a sharp increase in orders and business performance this year amid a surge in domestic LNG vessel demand.

 

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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