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Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (5 June 2025)

Bunker demand low in Houston; Los Angeles import volumes on rise; deliveries on first-come basis in Balboa.

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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:

  • Bunker demand low in Houston
  • Los Angeles import volumes on rise
  • Deliveries on first-come basis in Balboa

North America

Bunker demand in Houston remains sluggish across all fuel grades, with spot premiums being low this week. In the past 24 hours, 75 vessels have arrived, and 134 ships are scheduled to arrive over the next 30 days.

VLSFO and LSMGO are available at the port directly via pipe for prompt delivery with recommended lead times of 3-5 days.

HSFO is only available by barge and needs terminal approval and checks before a barge can be brought alongside. Lead times stand at 7-10 days, a source said.

The US Gulf hurricane season has begun, and although there haven’t been significant weather disruptions so far, conditions are expected to deteriorate in the coming weeks.

The Port of Corpus Christi completed an upgrade to its ship channel, deepening it from 47 to 54 feet and widening it from 400 to 530 feet over approximately 11.9 miles.

This will allow vessels with deeper drafts to transport cargo via the channel.

In Galveston, pilot restrictions are in place that require vessels to begin transit at least two hours before sunset and not before sunrise.

Vessels over 120,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) are currently restricted to arriving and departing only during daylight hours.

They may be shifted or turned at night within the ports of Galveston or Texas City.

According to a source, these vessels will be permitted to sail from Bolivar Roads at night, but for all such movements, a second pilot is required.

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

In New York, bunker demand from container liners remains steady, while activity in the spot market remains modest compared to last week.

All fuel grades are available at the port for prompt delivery, with suppliers recommending lead times of between 3-5 days.

New York is forecast to experience brief periods of high wind gusts between 5-8 June.

While no significant backlog congestion or bunker barge readiness issues are reported, these wind gusts could intermittently disrupt bunker deliveries.

Bunker fuel availability and demand at the Port of Los Angeles remain steady, with suppliers advising lead times of 7 days.

Import volumes at the Port of Los Angeles showed a week-on-week increase during the week of 1-7 June, 91,937 TEUs were scheduled across 16 vessels, representing a 32.74% rise from the previous week.

The following week, 8-14 June, import volumes are expected to further increase to 98,944 TEUs with 17 vessels scheduled, marking a 7.62% growth compared to the prior week.

However, despite this weekly growth, import volumes remain down compared to last year, with a 7.05% decline this week and a sharper 15.35% drop in the upcoming one.

Persistent high shipping costs are prompting importers to remain cautious with their planning, the Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, Gene Seroka, warned.

Montreal is expected to face possible disruption from 7-9 June due to high wind gusts. Backlog congestion is a concern as barge operations are restricted to daylight hours, which may already limit delivery windows.

High winds could further constrain bunker operations, increasing the risk of delivery delays and congestion.


Latin America and Caribbean

In Panama, the market remains very quiet, with some suppliers currently waiting for resupply.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is good with lead times of 5–7 days, but HSFO supply is very limited, requiring lead times of over 7 days.

In Balboa, deliveries are on a first come, first serve basis, with priority for vessels with confirmed transit schedules through the Panama ship canal.

Drought conditions continue to impact transit through the Panama canal, leading to delays in vessel movements, particularly for deep draft vessels.

However, regarding bunker deliveries, a source noted, “Bunker deliveries take place at the outer anchorages, ensuring they remain unaffected.”

Bahamas’ Freeport is flagged for possible disruption today due to high wind gusts. Deliveries are conducted at anchorage, and cruise ships take priority, which could delay bunker supply for other vessels.

Similarly at St. Eustatius deliveries are done at anchorage, with cruise ships taking priority. Currently no congestion issues are noted, a source noted.

In Argentina’s Bahia Blanca, the expansion and new berth at Oiltanking’s Otamerica terminal were officially inaugurated on Wednesday.

Oiltanking is an operator of tank storage facilities, and its Otamerica terminal in Puerto Rosales plays a crucial role in handling and exporting crude oil from the nearby Vaca Muerta shale field.

The terminal’s storage capacity has increased from 480,000 to 780,000 cubic meters. Alongside this, a new berth capable of handling two tankers, one Aframax and one Suezmax, each equipped with two loading arms is under construction.

The berth expected to be operational by August 2025.

Vaca Muerta is currently producing over 138,000 barrels per day, with output steadily rising alongside increasing exports. This growth has helped position Argentina as the third-largest crude oil producer in South America, behind Venezuela and Brazil, recently surpassing Colombia, Antares Ship Agents informed.

VLSFO availability in Zona Comun remains tight, with lead times of 12 to 14 days. Recent strong wind gusts caused frequent delivery suspensions. Currently operations are undergoing at the port.

Deliveries continue on a “first come, first serve” basis at the anchorage.

In Brazil, bunker fuel availability remains steady in the ports of Santos, Rio De Janeiro and Rio Grande. VLSFO and LSMGO are available for prompt delivery with lead times of 5-7 days.

The port of Santos is currently congested and is expected to clear in the next 5 days.

Bunker fuel availability in the Columbian ports of Barranquilla, Cartagena and Santa Marta remains steady with recommended lead times of 2-3 days, a source noted

By Gautamee Hazarika

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 6 June, 2025

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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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