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Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (19 June 2025)

Funding secured for Houston channel expansion; bunker demand picks up in Panama; first crude tanker loads at new Bahia Blanca berth.

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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:

  • Funding secured for Houston channel expansion
  • Bunker demand picks up in Panama
  • First crude tanker loads at new Bahia Blanca berth

North America

Bunker demand in Houston has held steady this week, with limited movement recorded in the spot market, a source said.

HSFO and VLSFO are readily available at the port, with suppliers advising lead times of 5–7 days. LSMGO is available with slightly shorter lead times of 3–5 days.

The Houston Ship Channel expansion project secured full federal funding on Wednesday, with $161 million allocated in the US President’s 2026 budget.

The project takes aim at widening and deepening key sections of the channel, to ease congestion and allow more and larger vessels to transit safely.

Offshore bunker deliveries are being hit by worsening weather, particularly in Bolivar Roads and the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA), where waves of up to 5 feet are forecast between 19–21 June.

Deliveries are underway but may be delayed, with bunker vessels assessing conditions on a case-by-case basis.

New Orleans is operating normally, with no weather or operational disruptions reported this week.

Bunker supply remains steady in New York, with lead times of 3–5 days for VLSFO and LSMGO, and 5–7 days for HSFO. Bunker demand has eased slightly compared to earlier this year, possibly indicating a slowdown heading into the third quarter, a source informed.

Strong wind gusts are forecast in New York between 19–22 June and may cause brief disruptions, though no backlog or congestion has been reported.

A new container terminal is planned at Hunts Point in the Bronx, replacing the decommissioned Vernon C. Bain jail barge. The terminal is expected to open by 2030–31.

On the West Coast, bunker demand has picked up modestly in Los Angeles, with suppliers recommending lead times of at least seven days to avoid spot premiums.

Container volumes in the Port of Los Angeles rose to 122,000 TEUs this week, up by 29% from last week and 41% up on the year.

For the upcoming week, port authorities project container volumes to increase to 125,000 TEUs, which would be a 3% weekly gain. The number of scheduled vessels is expected to rise from 21 to 23.

In Montreal, high wind gusts between 18–22 June could delay bunker operations. Barge operations are limited to daylight hours, which can contribute to anchorage delays.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Panama bunker demand has improved this week. Bunker fuel sales for May reached 453,000 mt, up 14% year-on-year, though down 1% from April, according to the Panama Maritime Authority.

All fuel grades in Balboa and Cristobal are available within lead times of 5–7 days.

Balboa is forecast to see strong winds and thunderstorms from 18–21 June, which could affect deliveries. Operations are being carried out on a first-come, first-served basis, with transit-confirmed vessels prioritised.

No weather disruptions have been reported in the Bahamas’ Freeport, though heavy cruise traffic could impact bunker vessel turnaround times.

The National Hurricane Center has issued an advisory on the tropical storm Erick, located in the eastern Pacific near southern Mexico.

An area of low pressure is forecast to form early next week off the coast of Central America, with a 20% chance of development over the next seven days.

The system may move west-northwestward off the coasts of Guatemala, Costa Rica, and southern Mexico, potentially impacting bunkering operations in the region.

In St. Eustatius, deliveries continue at anchorage with no disruptions reported. Cruise ships are given priority.

Offshore Trinidad is likely to face delays from Thursday until Monday next week due to high wind gusts and rough seas.

“Deliveries are carried out while vessels are underway, but timing will depend on location-specific conditions assessed by supply vessels,” a source said.

The P.Monterey is set to be the first crude tanker to load at the new oil berth in Argentina’s Bahia Blanca, around 20 June. It will load 110,000 mt of crude for Shell and Pluspetrol, bound for the US. This new export flow may boost bunker demand in the Bahia Blanca/Puerto Rosales area as more large tankers call in, Antares Ship Agents informed.

In Zona Comun, VLSFO availability is decent with recommended lead times of 5-6 days.

Strong wind gusts exceeding 20 knots are forecast from 22–24 June, likely delaying bunker deliveries. Operations remain on a first-come, first-served basis and will be weather-dependent, another source noted.

Brazilian ports Santos, Rio de Janeiro, and Rio Grande report good fuel availability, with VLSFO and LSMGO offered for prompt delivery and 5–7-day lead times.

Operations in Santos remain affected by some congestion, though conditions are expected to ease in the upcoming days. There are currently 42 vessels in port and 61 vessels recently departed.

Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Santa Marta are seeing stable supply and short lead times of 2–3 days.

By Gautamee Hazarika

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 20 June 2025

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Bunker Fuel

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (3 September 2026)

Bunker report panellists include Island Oil Limited, Cockett Marine Oil Pte, Monjasa A/S, KPI OceanConnect, NSI Marine and Transparensea Fuels.

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The following bunker report has been provided by freight market information provider Baltic Exchange for post on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (3 September 2026)
Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (3 September 2026)

All values are in US$/metric ton, all-in (invoice price), delivered on board
Delivery in 7-10 days
ISO 8217:2010
IFO 380 3.5% Sulphur
IFO 380 0.5% Sulphur
DMA 0.1% Sulphur

Fujairah – Offshore Anchorage Area
Gibraltar – Anchorage area
Houston – Houston Harbor
Panama – (Pacific) dangerous cargo area, Balboa
Rotterdam – Waalhaven Maasvlakte range
Singapore – Anchorage, under SBA Scheme
Zhoushan – Southern anchorage area

Submitted weekly at Close of Business UK time Daily

Panellists:
Cockett Marine Oil Pte, Island Oil Limited, KPI OceanConnect, Monjasa A/S, NSI Marine and Transparensea Fuels

 

Photo credit and source: Baltic Exchange
Published: 4 September, 2026

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Bunker Fuel

ENGINE: Americas Fuel Availability Outlook (3 September 2026)

New York sees healthy bunker demand; availability improves in Los Angeles; VLSFO and LSMGO tight in Rio de Janeiro.

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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:

  • New York sees healthy bunker demand
  • Availability improves in Los Angeles
  • VLSFO and LSMGO tight in Rio de Janeiro

North America

In Houston, bunker demand has been strong over the past week, and prompt availability is bit tight across all three conventional grades.

HSFO and VLSFO require lead times of 5–7 days, and LSMGO can be delivered by most suppliers within 4–5 days, a trader said.

At the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA), operations are being conducted on a first-come, first-served basis and remain subject to weather conditions.

Recommended lead times for all three grades stand at 5–8 days at the anchorage this week.

Mobile Bay stands out this week, with visibility dropping as low as 1 nautical mile during high-risk periods recurring almost daily through 9 September. Elsewhere, sea fog risk along the US Gulf Coast is mostly low.

Moderate risk builds through midweek at Port Arthur, Lake Charles, Marsh Island, Port Fourchon, New Orleans and Venice, while Texas ports, Pascagoula and Tampa stay largely clear, bar a few brief moderate spells.

In New York, bunker demand has been good. HSFO and VLSFO are tight for prompt supply, with lead times of 6–8 days, and LSMGO is available within 3–5 days.

No backlog or bunker barge readiness issues have been reported. Weather conditions are forecast to remain calm and conducive for bunkering at the port, a source said.

The Atlantic hurricane season is currently ongoing, with three active hurricanes — Karina and Marie in the Eastern Pacific, and Lowell in the Central Pacific.

The National Hurricane Center has issued advisories on all three. Additional marine warnings are also in effect in the Eastern Pacific region.

On the US West Coast, fuel availability across all three conventional grades has improved since the past week, a trader said. At the port of Los Angeles and Long Beach, some suppliers can now deliver VLSFO and LSMGO in a week’s time, compared to last week’s 10 days, while HSFO lead times remain unchanged at 7 days.

Recently, the Port of Los Angeles approved a 30-year lease extension with Yusen Terminals, keeping the operator at the port through 2056, and adding a further $200 million investment in zero-emission equipment.

At Canada’s Vancouver, VLSFO has been a bit tight over the past week, with recommended lead times currently over 5 days, a source said. HSFO and LSMGO have good availability, with lead times of 5–7 days.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Bunker availability is good for HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO at Panama’s Balboa and Cristobal, and demand has picked up this week, a trader told ENGINE.

Suppliers are recommending lead times of 3–5 days for all three fuel grades.

In Brazil, HSFO is no longer available, and lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO vary across the country’s ports.

Santos is congested, but availability is normal for VLSFO and LSMGO, with recommended lead times of 5–8 days.

Availability is tight for both grades in Rio de Janeiro this week, and supply is only available under prior consultation, a source said.

Rio Grande is reporting no availability for LSMGO, and VLSFO is available and can be supplied by most suppliers within a week.

At Paranaguá, Belém and Vila do Conde, VLSFO and LSMGO have decent availability, with lead times ranging between 4–7 days.

Punta Colorada in Argentina is set for a step up in activity, with two floating LNG (FLNG) units due onstream there by the end of 2027.

The Hilli Episeyo, currently repositioning from Cameroon via Singapore, and the Esperanza, a converted LNG carrier, will together add just over 6 million tonnes of annual LNG production capacity once both are running, Antares Shipping Agency said.

Bunkering operations in Argentina’s Zona Comun are continuing, despite choppy conditions at the anchorage.

Strong winds are expected to persist through the week, with the potential to interrupt bunkering, if winds exceed above 20 knots. Supplies of VLSFO and LSMGO are normal, and delivery lead times are currently running at 5-7 days, a source said.

By Gautamee Hazarika

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 4 September, 2026

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Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Fuel Availability Outlook (2 Sep 2026)

Prompt fuel supplies are tight in the ARA; high cruise demand tightens availability in Piraeus; lead times of 5-7 days required 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:

  • Prompt fuel supplies are tight in the ARA
  • High cruise demand tightens availability in Piraeus
  • Lead times of 5-7 days required in Durban

Northwest Europe

Fuel availability is tight in the ARA for prompt delivery dates, with buyers advised lead times between 5-7 days for deliveries of HSFO, VLSFO, ULSFO and LSMGO fuel grades, a trader said.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have averaged 15% higher in August thus far, compared to July’s monthly average, according to Insights Global data.

The ARA hub has imported around 344,000 b/d of fuel oil in August thus far, more than double July’s monthly average of around 159,000 b/d, according to Vortexa cargo flows data. The largest volumes arrived from Benin (20%), Venezuela (15%) and Mexico (8%).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories – which include diesel and heating oil – have dropped by 1% in August so far, compared to July, according to the Insights Global data.

The region has imported around 156,000 b/d of gasoil in August thus far, up from an average of around 119,000 b/d imported in July, according to Vortexa data. A majority of shipments arrived from the US (36%), Sweden (12%) and the UK (10%).

Bunker fuel availability is stable in Germany’s Hamburg port, a trader told ENGINE. Buyers are recommended a notice of five days to get delivery of any fuel grade.

Fuel availability is tight off Denmark Skaw and in Sweden’s Gothenburg, with buyers advised lead times of 10-14 days for deliveries of any fuel grade, a trader said.

Mediterranean

Bunker availability is tight for prompt dates at ports in the Strait of Gibraltar, with buyers advised earliest delivery dates of around 10-12 days out to get good coverage, a trader told ENGINE.

Suppliers in Gibraltar are running 4-12 hours behind schedule on deliveries, according to port agent MH Bland. In Algeciras, suppliers are running between 6-24 hours delayed, the port agent added. In Spain’s Ceuta, some deliveries at barge could be delayed by 6-8 hours, MH Bland said.

In Barcelona, buyers should book supplies at least a week before deliveries, a trader told ENGINE.

Prompt fuel availability is tight in Las Palmas, with buyers recommended lead times of around 10-12 days, a trader told ENGINE.

VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries off Malta require between 3-4 days of notice while ULSFO deliveries require six days of lead time, according to a trader. Some suppliers are offering prompt deliveries as well, the trader added.

Fuel availability is tight in Greece’s Piraeus for prompt supplies due to increased demand from cruise vessels, with buyers recommended lead times of seven days for HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO, while ULSFO supplies need a 5-day notice, a trader said.

Prompt fuel availability is okay in Turkey’s Istanbul for most marine fuels, a local supplier told ENGINE. LSMGO and ULSFO deliveries need 1-3 days of notice, while VLSFO needs 2-4 days’ time, a trader said. HSFO availability is slightly tight for prompt supplies in Istanbul, with buyers advised 4-7 days of lead time, the trader added.

Africa

In Togo’s Lome and off Namibia’s Walvis Bay, fuel availability is tight for prompt supplies of VLSFO and LSMGO, with buyers recommended a week of notice for both fuel grades.

VLSFO is not available in Angola’s Luanda, a supplier told ENGINE. LSMGO availability is comparatively stable, and a notice of 3-4 days is sufficient for deliveries of the fuel grade, the supplier added.

In Nigeria’s Lagos anchorage, prompt fuel supplies are tight, and buyers are advised lead times of 5-10 days, a local supplier said.

In South Africa’s Durban, prompt fuel supplies of all three grades are tight, a trader said. Buyers are advised a week’s notice for any fuel grade.

Bunker availability is tight in Port Louis, with suppliers requiring notice of around 10-14 days, a trader said.

In the Mozambican ports of Nacala and Maputo, VLSFO supplies are tight and need lead times of a week, a trader told ENGINE.

By Nachiket Tekawade

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 3 September, 2026

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