Bunker Fuel

Argus Media: Bunker lead times grow since US–Iran war began

Longer lead times, between the placing of a bunker fuel order and the fuel being supplied, reflect concerns about potential supply disruptions and strategies to deal with price volatility, says Argus.

Published

2 months ago

June 12, 2026

Admin

Shipowners and traders have been booking spot bunker fuel supplies further in advance since the start of the Iran–US conflict, according to data collected by Argus.

10 June 2026

The longer lead times, between the placing of a bunker fuel order and the fuel being supplied, reflect concerns about potential supply disruptions and strategies to deal with price volatility.

Disruption to shipping through and around the strait of Hormuz has encouraged buyers to secure fuel as far as four to six weeks ahead rather than risk encountering shortages, market participants said. Argus’ bunker assessments are typically for deliveries with a maximum of 9-12 days and up to 14 days for certain African ports.

The shift reflects concerns about reduced availability, with around 20pc of global crude having previously transited the strait now missing and therefore restricting supply of bunker grades. Higher freight costs have also reduced the economic incentive for suppliers to import fuel, which further reduced availability.

Very-low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) prices have strengthened sharply across major bunkering hubs since the start of the US-Iran war, reflecting tightening feedstock availability and growing supply concerns. Delivered VLSFO indications in Rotterdam have rose by around 45pc from 28 February to 31 May, prices in Panama increased by 49pc and in Singapore by 47pc.

The tightening market has been particularly evident in Fujairah, the world’s fourth-largest bunkering hub, where an acute supply shortage has left most suppliers without prompt VLSFO availability until mid-June. Market participants said disruptions to regional feedstock flows and the loss of supply from Kuwait’s al-Zour refinery sharply reduced local blending activity, pushing Fujairah VLSFO premiums to record highs of $500-700/t against front-month Singapore cargo values in early June.

The change in buying patterns has been happening worldwide. Delivery times for VLSFO in Singapore have extended to about 10-15 days forward in some cases, depending on supplies given tight blendstock availability, traders said this week. Typical delivery periods of about 7-10 days forward remain possible.

Singapore loadings for low-sulphur marine gasoil (LSMGO) have also slowed, with market participants expecting this to ease only in the second half of June. LSMGO supplies are tight because of delays in cargo arrivals from South Korea, and most current availability will go towards previously booked orders. The lead time for high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) has been steady at around 4-5 days, as supplies are ample in Singapore.

In Gibraltar, the average lead time in the three months before the war started was around five days. This is now 10 days. In Rotterdam the average booking period is up to 10 days from seven.

In South America, rising vessel traffic through the Panama Canal has increased congestion and lengthened waiting times. The tighter transit window has pushed bunker buyers in Balboa and Cristobal to secure fuel further in advance, with market participants reporting a shift away from prompt procurement toward longer lead-time bookings to ensure product availability and align deliveries with delayed canal crossings.

The average bunker fuel lead time in the Panama Canal increased to 14 days in March-May, from 10 days in the three months ending 28 February.

In Brazilian ports, longer lead times have also been driven by rising fuel oil export flows to Singapore, where demand for Brazilian supply has increased because of the disruption linked to the strait of Hormuz. The additional export pull has reduced feedstock availability for VLSFO blending in Brazil, tightening prompt supply at key ports like Santos and Paranagua.

Santos’ average bunker fuel lead times increased to 10 days in March-May, from eight days in the three months to 28 February. In Paranagua, average lead times rose to 13 days from 10 days over the same period.

By Gabriel Tassi Lara, Natália Coelho and Cassia Teo

Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 12 May, 2026

LNG Bunkering

Singapore: Equatorial Marine Fuel among eight selected for new LNG bunkering licences

Other recipients include Aramco Trading Singapore, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific, PetroChina International (Singapore), Shell Eastern Trading, Vitol Bunkers (S) and Sinopec Fuel Oil (Singapore).

Published

1 day ago

July 31, 2026

Admin

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Thursday (30 July) said it will issue eight new licences to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel in Singapore from 1 September.

MPA said the new licences will expand Singapore’s LNG bunkering capacity, strengthen the supporting ecosystem to meet growing demand for LNG bunkering services, and support Singapore’s continued development as a multi-fuel bunkering hub.

The licences will be awarded to Aramco Trading Singapore, Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific, PetroChina International (Singapore), Shell Eastern Trading, Sinopec Fuel Oil (Singapore), TotalEnergies Gas & Power Asia (TEGPA)-Sembcorp Fuels (Singapore) Joint Venture, and Vitol Bunkers (S).

“The eight successful applicants were selected following an evaluation of their supply capabilities, commercial plans, operational experience, and safety standards,” MPA said in a statement.

The evaluation also considered their capabilities to monitor and mitigate methane slip and support the supply of methane-based alternatives with lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, including liquefied bio-methane and e-methane.

The licences will be valid for five years, from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2031, subject to licensees continuing to meet the relevant licensing conditions. Licensees are required to provide end-to-end LNG bunkering services, including fuel supply, storage, cargo transfer and delivery to vessels.

The issuance of these licences concludes the Call for Applications launched on 14 January.

To further strengthen safe and reliable LNG bunkering operations, MPA and Enterprise Singapore, through the Singapore Standards Council, will upgrade the existing Technical Reference for LNG Bunkering (TR56) into a Singapore Standard (SS) in August 2026.

“The new SS will strengthen safety requirements, bunkering procedures, custody transfer and crew competencies, and serve as a common industry reference for LNG bunkering operations in Singapore,” MPA added.

“The SS will enhance Singapore’s LNG bunkering ecosystem and reinforce Singapore’s position as a trusted bunkering hub.”

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 31 July, 2026

Bunker Fuel

German firm IBT Bunkering & Trading establishes Singapore presence, adds second trading desk

‘Since 1976, we’ve traded bunkers out of Hamburg. Today, we’re opening our doors in Singapore — the world’s largest bunkering hub and the beating heart of marine fuel in Asia,’ says company.

Published

1 day ago

July 31, 2026

Admin

German firm IBT Bunkering & Trading establishes Singapore presence, adds second trading desk

Germany-headquartered marine fuels firm IBT Bunkering & Trading on Wednesday (29 July) announced that it is opening its doors in Singapore and will be running a trading desk in the city-state after trading bunkers out of Hamburg since 1976.

With this move, the company now has two strategic trading desks operating in Hamburg and Singapore.

“Since 1976, we’ve traded bunkers out of Hamburg. Today, we’re opening our doors in Singapore — the world’s largest bunkering hub and the beating heart of marine fuel in Asia,” the company said in a social media post.

“This isn’t a flag on a map. It’s a deliberate move to trade where the fuel flows: two strategic desks across two continents, one global network, covering west and east around the clock.

“50 years of bunkering expertise — now with boots on the ground in the Strait of Malacca.”

The company added that it will announce its Singapore team soon.

Photo credit: IBT Bunkering & Trading
Published: 31 July, 2026

Biofuel

Brazil launches public consultation on biofuel bunkering rules overhaul

Law firm Mayer Brown says Brazil’s ANP has launched a 45-day public consultation on proposed revisions to the country’s marine fuel specifications, paving the way for routine use of up to 100% biofuel.

Published

1 day ago

July 31, 2026

Admin

Law firm Mayer Brown on Tuesday (28 July) said Brazil’s National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) has launched a 45-day public consultation on proposed revisions to the country’s marine fuel specifications, paving the way for routine use of up to 100% biofuel (B100) in vessels while streamlining biofuel blending requirements:

On July 27, 2026, Brazil’s National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (“ANP”) published Public Consultation and Hearing Notice No. 15/2026, for the review of ANP Resolution No. 903/2022, which establishes the specifications for waterborne fuels marketed in Brazilian territory (marine diesel oil and marine fuel oil).

The purpose is to incorporate biofuels and renewable fuels into Brazilian waterborne transport, in the context of the energy transition and the International Maritime Organization’s (“IMO”) international decarbonization targets.

The proposal (i) aligns national specifications with ISO 8217/2024; and (ii) is encouraged by the progress of IMO discussions on carbon pricing and incentives for new fuels.

In terms of market context, operations involving the use of biofuels in Brazilian waterborne transport already exist, such that harmonizing national rules with ISO 8217 and the MARPOL Convention will standardize the regulatory treatment applicable to these operations.

The main changes proposed in the draft resolution are as follows.

The specification tables for waterborne fuels will be restructured, including classes for fuels containing biodiesel.
Limits and test methods from ISO 8217/2024 will be selectively incorporated, on a partial basis, in line with Brazilian market realities.
Biodiesel content of up to 100% (“B100”) for regular use in vessels (no longer as an exception), which could be sold directly to the end user.
Green diesel (“HVO”) and synthetic/GTL (Gas-to-Liquids) fuels will be treated as “drop-in” components, meaning chemically similar to fossil fuels and capable of replacing them without requiring engine or infrastructure adaptation.
Agents authorized to carry out biofuel blending will be defined, which eliminates the requirement for prior ANP authorization to use blends, replacing it with a simple notification to the Agency.
Quality control, document traceability, sampling, certification, and fuel identification rules will be improved, in line with the MARPOL Convention.
Prior experimental authorization from ANP will be provided for alternative fuels not covered by ISO 8217 (ethanol, methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen).
A prior authorization regime will be established for liquefied natural gas (“LNG”), without an experimental character, given the existence of well-established technical standards and the early stage of Brazil’s national LNG transport and supply infrastructure.

The public consultation will run for 45 days, from July 28 to September 10, 2026. On September 23, 2026, a public hearing will be held to discuss the matter with civil society and regulated agents.

Photo credit: Jeff Doria on Unsplash
Published: 31 July, 2026