Alternative Fuels

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: Singapore’s LNG-biofuel price gaps shrink

Brent records biggest weekly drop in over a year; gas loses price advantage again; Singapore LNG’s discounts to bio blends narrow.

Published

2 years ago

October 22, 2024

Admin

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: Singapore’s LNG-biofuel price gaps shrink

Once a week, bunker intelligence platform ENGINE will publish a snapshot of alternative and conventional bunker fuel prices in the world’s two biggest bunkering hubs. The following is the latest snapshot:

21 October 2024

Brent records biggest weekly drop in over a year
Gas loses price advantage again
Singapore LNG’s discounts to bio blends narrow

The front-month ICE Brent futures contract has dropped by $5.98/bbl ($44/mt) over the past week, as concerns about supply disruptions in the Middle East eased on renewed hopes of a ceasefire in Gaza.

Brent’s fall has put heavy downward pressure on conventional fuel benchmarks over the past week.

Singapore’s VLSFO premium over Rotterdam stands at $44/mt, a $10/mt decline over the past week.

LNG has lost the price advantage it gained last week, and its VLSFO-equivalent price has returned to a premium over LSMGO in both Rotterdam and Singapore.

LNG’s discount to B24-VLSFO UCOME in Singapore has narrowed by $28/mt to $41/mt. Its price discount to Singapore’s B24-LSMGO blend has decreased by $32/mt to $65/mt.

VLSFO

Rotterdam’s VLSFO price has fallen by $14/mt over the past week, a more modest decline than Brent. While VLSFO supply has improved slightly, securing prompt stems still remains a challenge. According to a trader, demand for bunker fuel has also picked up. This has helped support the benchmark.

Singapore’s VLSFO has seen a larger decline of $24/mt. Consistently tight supply of the grade in the port has prevented a steeper drop.

Biofuels

Rotterdam’s B24-LSMGO HBE price has dropped by $42/mt in the past week, which was three times the $14/mt decline in the B24-VLSFO HBE price.

The more pronounced drop in the B30-LSMGO HBE price has been driven by a sharper $44/mt decline in the underlying ENGINE conventional LSMGO price.

Singapore’s B24-VLSFO UCOME has shed $27/mt in the past week, while its B24-LSMGO UCOME price has tumbled by $41/mt.

These declines have been driven by a $24/mt fall in the underlying ENGINE conventional VLSFO price and a $41/mt drop in the LSMGO price. Adding to the downward pressure, the China UCOME FOB price also dropped by $20/mt, exerting additional pressure on both benchmarks.

LNG

Rotterdam’s LNG bunker has dropped by $10/mt in the past week. Strong LNG import activity in northwest Europe and reduced gas demand across the continent has exerted downward pressure on benchmark.

On the other side of the world, rising concerns over potential gas supply constraints in Asia have pushed Singapore’s LNG bunker price up by $1/mt in the past week.

By Konica Bhatt

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 22 October, 2024

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Ammonia

HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

HPA says the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

Published

1 minute ago

July 22, 2026

Admin

HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and integrated energy company MB Energy on Tuesday (21 July) said they have completed a comprehensive risk analysis and developed a dedicated safety concept for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering.

MB Energy said the analysis lays the groundwork for the safe introduction of ammonia as a future marine fuel.

“With our planned ammonia import terminal in Hamburg-Blumensand, MB Energy intends to provide the reliable land side supply infrastructure needed to support this transition across northern German ports,” it said in a social media post.

Mabanaft Group was renamed to MB Energy last year and merged over 50 existing brands under one identity.

Separately, HPA said the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

“The focus is in particular on container ships, cruise ships as well as RoRo and ConRo (Container/RoRo) ships,” it said.

“We expect ammonia to establish itself as an alternative marine marine fuel in the coming years. With our preparatory work, we are already creating the conditions to welcome the first ammonia-powered ships in Hamburg and to bunker them safely.:

HPA added that the import terminal for ammonia planned by MB Energy from 2029 will make a decisive contribution to ensuring the reliable availability of ammonia as a bunker fuel in northern German ports in the long term.

“The use of an ammonia bunker barge is considered a possible addition to the landside infrastructure to enable ship bunkering in the port and beyond in the future,” it said.

Photo credit: Hamburg Port Authority
Published: 22 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Published

1 day ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

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.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

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

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

Published

1 day ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

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

China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) recently signed a contract with Sinopec (Beijing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd. to build a 12,000-cubic metre (m3) LNG bunkering vessel, according to Chinese maritime media.

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