Marine fuel sales in the world’s third largest bunkering hub Fujairah, the UAE, rose by 8.7pc on the year in 2021, according to Argus data.
Argus assesses bunker prices in Fujairah daily through deals received from suppliers, traders and buyers, and the volumes indicate a snapshot of general trends of the market, capturing up to 30pc of the market. Argus received 2,969 deals last year, including all main marine fuels traded in Fujairah, for an overall volume of 2.3mnt up from 2.12mn t in 2020.
Sales of 0.5pc marine fuel oil in the submitted deals increased by 4pc to 1.86mn t. A number of production and logistics issues in March and in December capped the growth. But sales of high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) were up by 25pc to 394,000t from 314,000t, as more buying interest emerged from new and retrofitted scrubber-equipped vessels. Scrubbers allow a vessel to burn fuel with a sulphur content of up to 3.5pc while remaining compliant with the International Maritime Organisation 2020 0.5pc sulphur cap.
Low-sulphur marine gasoil (LSMGO) volumes grew significantly to 46,000t from 26,000t, which traders linked to the sales of HSFO. Many buyers typically purchase smaller amounts of the product to use in emission control areas (ECA).
By Elshan Aliyev
Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 14 January, 2022
Program introduces periodic assessments, mass flow metering data analysis, and regular training for relevant key personnel to better handle the MFMS to ensure a high level of continuous operational competency.
U.S. Claims Register Summary recorded a total USD 833 million claim from a total 180 creditors against O.W. Bunker USA, according to the creditor list seen by Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times.
Glencore purchased fuel through Straits Pinnacle which contracted supply from Unicious Energy. Contaminated HSFO was loaded at Khor Fakkan port and shipped to a FSU in Tanjong Pelepas, Malaysia to be further blended.
Individuals were employees of surveying companies engaged by Shell to inspect the volume of oil loaded onto the vessels which Shell supplied oil to; they allegedly accepted bribes totalling at least USD 213,000.
MPA preliminary investigations revealed that the affected marine fuel was supplied by Glencore Singapore Pte Ltd who later sold part of the same cargo to PetroChina International (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
‘MPA had immediately contacted the relevant bunker suppliers to take necessary steps to ensure that the relevant batch of fuel was no longer supplied. Further investigations are currently on-going,’ it informs.