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Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (20 Nov 2024)

HSFO remains tight in the ARA; supply has improved in Barcelona; LSMGO supply is dry in Durban.

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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:

  • HSFO remains tight in the ARA
  • Supply has improved in Barcelona
  • LSMGO supply is dry in Durban

Northwestern Europe

HSFO and VLSFO availability remains tight in Rotterdam and across the wider ARA hub, a trader told ENGINE. Lead times remain unchanged for both grades with 7-10 days recommended for HSFO and 5-7 days for VLSFO. Despite the tightness, VLSFO supply in the ARA hub has improved slightly compared to the last week, a source said. 

LSMGO availability is relatively better in the ARA hub and most suppliers can offer the grade for prompt delivery dates. Lead times of around 3-5 days are advised for the ARA, according to the trader. 

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have remained unchanged so far this month compared to October, according to Insights Global data.

The region has imported 184,000 b/d of fuel oil so far this month, down from 262,000 b/d imported in October, according to data from cargo tracker Vortexa. The ARA has imported low-sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) and HSFO in a 31/69 ratio in November so far, compared to a 45/55 ratio in October.

The UK (37% of the ARA’s total imports) has emerged as the region’s biggest oil import source so far this month. Saudi Arabia (25%) has come in second place, while Poland (12%) has ranked third. Other import sources include France (11%) and Denmark (6%).

Despite higher imports, the ARA hub’s independent gasoil inventories – which include diesel and heating oil – have come down by 4% so far this month. The region has imported 672,000 b/d of gasoil so far this month, registering a sharp uptick from 411,000 b/d of gasoil imported in October, according to Vortexa data.

In Germany’s Hamburg port, bunker fuel availability is good with suppliers offering prompt supply for all grades. Lead times of 3-5 days are recommended for all three grades in Hamburg, a trader told ENGINE.

Mediterranean

LSMGO availability in Gibraltar port has tightened, with lead times increasing to 5-7 days, up from 3-5 days last week. A supplier is not offering LSMGO at the moment due to an unknown blending issue at its refinery, a trader told ENGINE.

HSFO supply is tight in Gibraltar, with some suppliers unable to accommodate stems for very prompt delivery dates, a trader said. A supplier is only able to supply the grade for delivery dates after 28 November. In contrast, VLSFO supply is robust in Gibraltar, with recommended lead times of 3-5 days.

Gibraltar has experienced heavy congestion this week due to recent weather-related disruptions, which have led to delays in bunkering at the port. 13 vessels were waiting to receive bunkers on Wednesday, down from 15 on Tuesday, according to a source.

In the Canary Islands’ port of Las Palmas, HSFO remains in short supply for a few suppliers. A trader recommends lead times of 7-10 days for HSFO for optimal coverage from suppliers. The earliest date for HSFO with one supplier is 3 December, a trader said.

VLSFO and LSMGO are well-stocked in Las Palmas, with recommended lead times of 3-5 days for both grades.

Supply tightness has eased slightly for HSFO and VLSFO in Spain’s Barcelona. Lead times have reduced slightly from 7-10 days in the past week to 5-7 days now. LSMGO supply remains good and lead times remain unchanged at 5-7 days. Bunker operations in Barcelona may face disruptions until Friday due to strong winds. Gusts of 21-26 knots are forecast for Wednesday, increasing to 24-32 knots on Thursday and Friday.

Other Mediterranean bunker hubs like Piraeus, Malta Offshore and Istanbul continue to witness muted demand, a trader said.

Greece’s Piraeus port has normal availability of all three bunker grades, a trader told ENGINE. Lead times remain consistent with 3-5 days recommended for all three grades. Bad weather is forecast from Thursday onwards and could disrupt bunkering until Saturday, a source said.

Off Malta, bunker availability remains normal as it was last week. Most suppliers can deliver VLSFO and LSMGO within 3-5 days. HSFO supply is subject to enquiry as only one supplier can offer the grade off Malta. Rough weather may hamper bunkering between Wednesday and Saturday, according to a source. 

Istanbul port in Turkey has good availability across all three grades, a trader told ENGINE. Lead times of 3-5 days are advised for all bunker fuel grades in the port.

Africa

In South Africa’s Durban, one source reported that LSMGO supplies are running dry, while another mentioned that only one supplier currently has LSMGO. Bunker operations may face disruptions on Thursday due to forecasted wind gusts of 22 knots, with further adverse weather expected on Saturday.

VLSFO supply is also tight in Durban as well as Richards Bay, with lead times of 7-10 days recommended.

Securing prompt supply is not a challenge in Mauritius’ Port Louis. All three grades are well stocked in the port as demand has been strong, particularly for VLSFO and LSMGO, according to a trader. Port Louis may witness weather-induced bunkering disruptions on Wednesday and Thursday, a source said.

By Manjula Nair

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 21 November, 2024 

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Alternative Fuels

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: LSMGO surges to greater premium over biofuel

B100 discount to LSMGO widens to $541/mt in Rotterdam; Singapore’s B100 drops to $106/mt below LSMGO; Rotterdam LBM at $639-833/mt discounts to LSMGO.

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ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: LSMGO surges to greater premium over biofuel

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:

20 July 2026

  • B100 discount to LSMGO widens to $541/mt in Rotterdam
  • Singapore’s B100 drops to $106/mt below LSMGO
  • Rotterdam LBM at $639-833/mt discounts to LSMGO

B100’s premium over HSFO in Rotterdam has narrowed by $50/mt over the past week to $64/mt, while its discount to VLSFO has widened by $83/mt to $105/mt.

B100 has become far more competitive against LSMGO in Rotterdam, with its discount widening by $180/mt over the past week to $541/mt, as a surge in conventional fuel prices left B100 broadly unchanged by comparison.

B100’s price has risen by $109/mt in Singapore, but its discount to LSMGO has still widened by $102/mt to $106/mt, as LSMGO surged by an even greater $211/mt.

Rotterdam’s LNG premium over VLSFO has widened by $35/mt to $201/mt for vessels with Otto medium speed (Otto MS) engines. For vessels with diesel slow speed (diesel SS) engines, LNG has flipped to a $15/mt premium over VLSFO, from a $22/mt discount the prior week.

Liquefied biomethane (LBM) discounts to VLSFO in Rotterdam have narrowed by $50-52/mt to $203-396/mt over the past week. Against LSMGO, LBM discounts have widened by $45-47/mt to $639-833/mt, depending on engine type.

In Singapore, LNG is now $42/mt cheaper than LSMGO for vessels with Otto MS engines, and $134/mt cheaper for vessels with diesel SS engines.

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: LSMGO surges to greater premium over biofuel

Liquid fuels

HSFO and VLSFO prices in Rotterdam have jumped by $66/mt and $99/mt respectively over the past week, while LSMGO has surged by an even steeper $196/mt. A $9.69/bbl ($71/mt) rise in front-month ICE Brent futures, to $87.94/bbl ($645/mt), drove bunker prices sharply higher across the board.

Bunker fuel availability is tight for prompt delivery dates in the ARA ports, with buyers advised to enquire about stems between 5-7 days ahead to get good coverage, a trader said.

Rotterdam’s B100 price has risen by $16/mt over the past week. Dutch ZRE A ticket prices were unchanged at €107.50/mtCO2e.

Singapore’s HSFO and VLSFO prices have risen by $130/mt and $132/mt respectively, while its LSMGO price has gained an even steeper $211/mt over the past week.

VLSFO availability in Singapore has been tight, with several suppliers reporting low stock levels. Recommended lead times have widened from 13–17 days last week to 14–19 days now.

Liquid gases

Rotterdam’s LNG prices have surged by $134-136/mt over the past week, while its LBM prices have climbed by $149-151/mt.

LBM discounts to LNG in Rotterdam have narrowed by $15/mt to $404-411/mt.

Singapore’s LNG bunker benchmarks have surged by $196-197/mt over the past week.

By Erik Hoffmann

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 21 July, 2026

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Bunker Fuel

ENGINE: Americas Fuel Availability Outlook (16 July 2026)

Moderate sea fog to affect parts of US Gulf; Panama bunker supply steady; tight VLSFO and LSMGO supply in Rio Grande.

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RESIZED ENGINE Americas

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:

  • Moderate sea fog to affect parts of US Gulf
  • Panama bunker supply steady
  • Tight VLSFO and LSMGO supply in Rio Grande

North America

In Houston, bunker availability is normal across all three conventional fuel grades. Recommended lead times are about 5-7 days for VLSFO and HSFO, while LSMGO has typically taken 4-5 days over the past week, a trader tells ENGINE.

At the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA), deliveries are continuing on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to weather conditions.

Currently, no major operational disruptions have been reported at the anchorage.

Sea fog is not expected to cause widespread bunker disruptions across the US Gulf Coast, with most major ports forecast to maintain good visibility.

Moderate sea fog could affect Pascagoula and Mobile early next week, while Tampa faces the highest risk of reduced visibility between 20-22 July.

Brief visibility restrictions are also forecast at Venice, Louisiana, while conditions are expected to remain favourable at Houston, Galveston, Freeport, Corpus Christi, Port Arthur, Lake Charles, Port Fourchon and New Orleans.

The Atlantic hurricane season is underway, and the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued an advisory for Tropical Storm Elida in the Eastern Pacific. Marine warnings are also in effect across parts of the Caribbean, southwest Atlantic and Eastern Pacific.

Bunker demand on the US East Coast at the port of New York is good, with healthy availability of HSFO and VLSFO.

Most suppliers can deliver both grades within 5 days, and LSMGO requires 2-4 days.

In New York, periods of high wind gusts are forecast through 19 July.

While no backlog congestion has been reported, suppliers may require standby tugs under poor weather conditions, which could slow bunker barge movements, a source said.

On the West Coast, bunker demand has remained normal in Los Angeles and Long Beach, where suppliers recommend lead times between 8-10 days across all conventional grades.

In Vancouver, recommended lead times are 5-7 days for HSFO and 6-8 days for VLSFO and LSMGO, a source said.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Bunker availability is stable in Panama’s Balboa and Cristobal ports. Recommended lead times are 3-5 days for VLSFO and LSMGO, and HSFO requires around 7 days, a source said.

No major congestion or weather-related disruptions have been reported at the ports.

At Balboa, deliveries are being made on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to weather conditions, with priority given to vessels holding confirmed Panama Canal transit schedules.

Weather conditions could temporarily affect operations at several Caribbean bunkering locations.

In Freeport, Bahamas, bunker operations continue normally. Cruise vessels are given priority at the port, and no significant congestion or weather-related disruptions have been reported.

Further east, high wind gusts are forecast through 19 July and could delay bunker operations at St. Eustatius, where deliveries are conducted at anchorage.

Offshore bunkering in Trinidad may also experience delays during the same period because of high winds and rough seas.

Brazil continues to present a mixed supply of bunker fuels.

Santos this week offers normal availability for VLSFO and LSMGO, although port congestion persists, a trader tells ENGINE. Recommended lead times are 5-8 days at the port.

Rio de Janeiro also has normal VLSFO availability and requires lead times between 4 days to one week. LSMGO is available only upon prior consultation at the port.

Availability is tighter at southern Brazilian ports. Paranaguá and Rio Grande have both reported tight VLSFO and LSMGO availability, and operators are advised to plan bunker stems well in advance.

Belém and Vila do Conde continue to offer normal availability of both grades, with lead times between 4-7 days, a source said.

In Argentina’s Zona Común, VLSFO and LSMGO availability is good, with suppliers typically taking between 5-7 days of lead time to deliver via barges, a source said.

Weather conditions could become less favourable between 19-20 July, when high wind gusts are forecast. Deliveries will continue on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to weather conditions.

By Gautamee Hazarika

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 17 July, 2026

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Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Europe and Africa Fuel Availability Outlook (15 July 2026)

Notice of 5-7 days required in ARA; congestion remains high in Gibraltar and Algeciras; lead time of around 4-5 days recommended in Luanda.

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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:

  • Notice of 5-7 days required in ARA
  • Congestion remains high in Gibraltar and Algeciras
  • Lead time of around 4-5 days recommended in Luanda

Northwest Europe

Bunker fuel availability is tight in the ARA for prompt supplies, with buyers advised to book stems around 5-7 days in advance to get good coverage from suppliers, a trader said.

In Antwerp’s Deurganck Dock, hydrofluoric acid spilled from a container on a cargo ship, leading to traffic getting suspended in the affected area. Operations have resumed in all terminals, except the MPET terminal.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have averaged 9% higher so far in July, compared to June’s monthly average, according to Insights Global data.

The ARA hub has imported only 175,000 b/d of fuel oil in July so far, down from June’s monthly average of 215,000 b/d, according to Vortexa cargo data.Most import cargoes have come from Colombia (33%), the Caribbean Netherlands (28%) and France (24%).

The region has imported 84,000 b/d of gasoil in July so far, down from 188,000 b/d imported in June, according to Vortexa data. Most of these shipments have come from Canada (24%), the US (20%) and Finland (15%).

Availability of all marine fuel types is stable in Germany’s Hamburg, and all fuel grades can be delivered within five days, a trader told ENGINE.

Off Denmark’s Skaw and in Sweden’s Gothenburg, fuel buyers are advised booking deliveries around 10 days ahead for any fuel grade, according to a trader.

Mediterranean

Ships calling at Gibraltar are seeing heavy congestion due to a lack of space, with around 21 vessels awaiting bunkers as of Wednesday morning, port agent MH Bland said. Some suppliers may be late by anywhere between 24-48 hours on deliveries, the port agent added.

In neighbouring Algeciras, some suppliers are delayed by 12-18 hours on supplies, port agent MH Bland said.

Consequently, fuel buyers looking to bunker in Gibraltar and Algeciras are recommended to book stems around 15 days ahead, a trader said. The congestion in Gibraltar and Algeciras is caused mostly due to overbooking by suppliers, the trader added.

In Spain’s Barcelona, buyers are advised to book with a lead time of a week, a trader said.

Fuel availability is stable in Portugal’s Lisbon, a supplier said.

In Las Palmas, buyers are requested to book with a lead time of around 7-10 days for delivery of HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO supplies, a trader told ENGINE.

Fuel buyers off Malta should enquire around 5-7 days prior to their expected time of arrival, a trader said.

Although there is a slight shortage of LSMGO, the market is expected to bounce back by next week, a supplier told ENGINE.

Fuel availability is stable in Turkey’s Istanbul, with notice of 1-3 days sufficient to get any fuel grade, a local supplier told ENGINE.

In Romania’s Constanta, Mangalia and Midia, fuel availability is normal, but prices are high, a local supplier said.

Africa

HSFO availability remains limited across almost all ports in Africa, a trader told ENGINE.

Prompt fuel availability remains tight in Togo’s Lome and off Namibia’s Walvis Bay, and buyers are recommended lead times of seven days, a trader told ENGINE.

VLSFO supplies in the Nigeria’s Lagos anchorage come with a lead time of 5-7 days, a local supplier told ENGINE.

In Angola’s Luanda, buyers are advised to book with a notice of 4-5 days for VLSFO and LSMGO, a supplier said.

Bunker availability is tight for prompt deliveries in South Africa’s Durban and off Algoa Bay, with buyers advised at least 5-7-day notice for VLSFO and LSMGO, a trader said.

Fuel availability remains tight in Mozambique’s Nacala and Maputo, as suppliers are recommending lead times of around 5-7 days for VLSFO supplies, a trader said.

Bunker fuel availability is tight in Mauritius’ Port Louis, where buyers are advised to book seven days ahead for VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries, a trader said.

By Nachiket Tekawade

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 16 July, 2026

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