Bunker Fuel

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (1 August 2024)

Prompt availability is tight in Houston; bad weather could impact Zona Comun bunkering; one bunker barge in Zona Comun resumes operation.

Published

2 years ago

August 2, 2024

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 availability is tight in Houston
Bad weather could impact Zona Comun bunkering
One bunker barge in Zona Comun resumes operation

North America

Bunker fuel demand has slowed down in Houston this week, but availability of all fuel grades remains tight for prompt dates. Most suppliers are fully booked for both prompt dates and dates further out, while some can offer VLSFO and LSMGO stems with a lead time of 7-8 days in Houston.

Some buyers are considering other bunkering locations like the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) to lift bunkers because securing prompt stems is tougher in Houston. Demand has picked up in GOLA this week as suppliers can offer VLSFO and LSMGO stems with a short lead time of 1-3 days.

Prompt supply of VLSFO and LSMGO is also tight in Bolivar Roads. Bunker deliveries there are subject to weather conditions and the availability of anchorage space, a source says. One of the suppliers is unable to offer VLSFO for delivery dates this week as well as next week.

In Beaumont and Port Arthur, demand has been muted this week.

Prompt VLSFO availability at the New Orleans Outer Anchorage (NOLA) remains good. The grade can be secured with a lead time of 4-5 days. However, demand has been slow in NOLA this week when compared to demand in the previous weeks.

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 both ports. Securing HSFO can be more difficult than the other two grades, a source says.

On the other hand, HSFO can be easily secured in San Francisco on the West Coast with a lead time of 5-6 days.

Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO are available in the East Coast port of New York.

Demand has reduced this week in the Canadian East Coast ports of Montreal and Halifax, compared to very strong demand last week. Availability has improved in both locations, with suppliers now offering stems with a lead time of 5–6 days.

Caribbean and Latin America

Bunker fuel demand has been good in Panama’s Balboa and Cristobal. Product availability is also good in both locations, with several suppliers able to supply all fuel grades with a lead time of 5-7 days.

VLSFO and LSMGO grades are available at Argentina’s Zona Comun anchorage, with recommended lead times of 5-7 days. Bunker demand has remained low in the past week.

Bunker operations were running normally in Zona Comun on Thursday morning. However, rough weather conditions are forecast from Thursday evening onwards, and the weather is expected to remain severe until Saturday. This may result in prolonged delays and disruptions, a source says.

The bunker barge Gustavo U started supplying fuel again in Zona Comun on Monday after undergoing maintenance since 5 July.

Bunker fuel availability has been normal in the Brazilian port of Santos. Several suppliers can offer VLSFO and LSMGO stems with a lead time of 3-4 days in the port.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 2 August, 2024

Up Next

GENA Solutions: Total renewable and low-carbon methanol project pipeline rises from 34.1 to 35.4 Mt by 2030

Don't Miss

China: Xiushandong Anchorage ranks first in bonded bunkering volume in Zhoushan

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

12 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Admin

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

12 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

12 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