Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (26 Feb 2025)

Prompt VLSFO still tight in the ARA; bunker supply good in Lisbon and Sines; LSMGO remains dry in Durban.

Published

1 year ago

February 27, 2025

Admin

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:

Prompt VLSFO still tight in the ARA
Bunker supply good in Lisbon and Sines
LSMGO remains dry in Durban

Northwest Europe

HSFO and VLSFO supply is still tight for very prompt delivery dates in the ARA hub. Lead times of 5-7 days are advised for both grades. LSMGO availability is better in comparison with suppliers able to offer lead times of 3-5 days.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have decreased by 7% so far this month compared to January, according to Insights Global data.

The region has imported 257,000 b/d of fuel oil so far this month, a dip from 298,000 b/d imported in January, according to data from cargo tracker Vortexa.

Saudi Arabia (25% of the total) has emerged as the region’s biggest fuel oil cargo source, followed by the UK (18%), Sweden (15%), Poland (14%) and Lithuania (8%).

The ARA hub’s independent gasoil inventories – which include diesel and heating oil – have averaged 3% higher so far this month.

Mediterranean

HSFO is still very tight in Gibraltar, a trader said, recommending lead times of 8-10 days for full coverage. VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal with suppliers able to offer prompt delivery dates. Lead times of 3-5 days are recommended for both. Bunkering is proceeding smoothly in Gibraltar amid conducive weather conditions.

The Canary Islands’ port of Las Palmas has good availability across all three grades. Lead times of 3-5 days are advised.

Bunker supply is well stocked in the Spanish port of Barcelona. Suppliers can offer prompt delivery dates, with a trader advising lead times of 3-5 days.

Meanwhile, availability is normal in the Portuguese ports of Lisbon and Sines, a source told ENGINE.

Suppliers in Mediterranean bunker locations like Piraeus, Istanbul and off Malta have reported muted demand, a trader said.

The Greek port of Piraeus has good supply of VLSFO and LSMGO. Both require lead times of 3-5 days, while HSFO is subject to enquiry. Off Malta, bunker availability is normal with lead times of 3-5 days on offer, a trader said.

Securing prompt delivery dates is not a challenge in Turkey’s Istanbul. Suppliers in the port are well stocked and recommended lead times are 3-5 days.

Africa

Prompt VLSFO supply is very tight in the South African ports of Durban and Richards Bay, a trader said. Recommended lead times are 7-10 days.

LSMGO continues to be dry in Durban, a trader said. Suppliers ran out of LSMGO in the last week of January.

By Manjula Nair

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 27 February, 2025

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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.

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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

11 hours ago

July 23, 2026

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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

11 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