Business

Argus Media: Spanish bunker sales fell again in June

Spanish bunker ports supplied 28% less fuel in June than a year earlier but showed an improvement from May, when the overall fell by 35% year on year, it said.

Published

6 years ago

August 7, 2020

Admin

George Collard and Erik Hoffmann of global energy and commodity price reporting agency Argus Media on Thursday (6 August) published an update outlining factors behind the decline in bunker sales in Spain based on the specific demands of each port:

Spanish bunker ports supplied 28% less fuel in June than a year earlier as the Covid-19 pandemic reduced shipping traffic.

Among the country’s main bunkering ports, Barcelona’s sales took the biggest hit. The port supplied 59,000t in June, a 55% year on year drop. Barcelona handled 45% less liquid bulk tonnes, 23% fewer twenty-foot container equivalent units (TEUs), but 9% more dry bulk tonnes. only three cruise ships entered Barcelona in June, down from 76 a year earlier.

Barcelona and other bunkering ports also receive ships only for bunkering or for repairs.

Las Palmas remained the largest Spanish bunkering port in June, with its supply of 187,000t down by only 2% from a year earlier. Sales were supported by 15% growth in liquid bulk volumes. Dry bulk volumes fell by 3%, and container TEUs by 8%. The Canary Islands port is not a big destination for cruise ships, but the number of them entering the port doubled year on year to four.

The other Canary Island port of Tenerife supplied 27,000t, up by 6% from a year earlier. Sales recovered after they dropped by 45% on the year in May. Bunker demand got support from a 47% rise in dry bulk volumes, although liquid bulk was down by 32% and container TEUs down by 6%. A significant increase in the number of cruise ships entering the port, from one to eight, could have added to demand.

Algeciras, which was Spain’s largest bunkering port until last year, supplied 117,000t of fuel — a 35% drop. Sales were pressured by a 6% drop in liquid bulk, 19% less dry bulk and 5% fewer container TEUs. The port does not normally receive cruise ships.

In the first six months of the year Algeciras supplied 24% less fuel, and Las Palmas’ supply nudged up by 2%.

Sales at Cueta fell by 14% year on year in June, pulled down by 41% less liquid bulk, and by 37% less container TEUs. The north African enclave had no dry bulk or cruise ship traffic.

Spanish ports’ June sales were an improvement from May, when the overall fell by 35% year on year.

Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 7 August, 2020

Biofuel

Petrochina International blends over 30,000 mt of marine biofuel since March

Company has been developing marine biofuel blending operations at China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, leveraging storage and logistics facilities at its Aoshan base.

Published

20 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

Zhoushan completes China’s first batch of marine biofuel blending under pilot programme

Petrochina International Co Ltd recently said it has blended more than 30,000 metric tonnes (mt) mt of biofuel since completing the country’s first biofuel marine fuel blending operation on 13 March.

The company said the milestone demonstrates its ability to conduct continuous and large-scale biofuel marine fuel blending operations.

The company has been developing marine biofuel blending operations at China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, leveraging storage and logistics facilities at its Aoshan base.

Its latest product, B24 marine fuel containing 24% biofuel component, meets relevant International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements and marine fuel standards, according to the company. It said the product can be supplied for bunkering vessels operating on international routes.

It has used its global trading network to secure feedstock supplies and support cost control and supply security for the blending operations, it added.

The company said the large-scale blending of its marine biofuel products marks a development in China’s marine biofuel blending market.

It plans to work with upstream and downstream businesses within its group to support the development of Zhoushan Port as a major bonded marine fuel bunkering hub and contribute to its parent group’s transition towards lower-carbon energy.

Manifold Times previously reported China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone launching the first pilot programme for marine biofuel blending in China with the completion of the first batch of B24-HSFO.

The launch was marked with the blending of 2,000 mt of biodiesel and 6,300 mt of high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) in storage tank F-02 of Sinochem-Xingzhong Oil Staging (Zhoushan), producing 8,300 mt of B24-HSFO.

Manifold Times also reported the first cross-regional bonded bunkering operation of blended biofuel in East China was successfully completed at the Meishan Port Area of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.

The B24-HSFO used in the bunkering operation was supplied by the Aoshan Petroleum Base in Zhoushan from the first pilot programme for marine biofuel blending in China.

Photo credit: Sinochem-Xingzhong Oil Staging (Zhoushan)
Published: 21 September, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Final general meetings scheduled for Dromond Shipping, related firms

A member is entitled to attend the meetings and should notify the liquidators’ team office via email no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Published

20 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

The final general meetings of Dromond Shipping Pte Ltd and related companies have been scheduled to take place on 19 October, according to the company’s liquidator on a notice posted on Friday (18 September) on the Government Gazette.

The other companies are Tidewater Emergency Response Services Pte Ltd, Tidewater Production Solutions Pte Ltd and Tidewater Salvage Pte Ltd.

The final general meetings of the members of the companies will be held via electronic means on 19 October 2026 at 2.00 pm, 2.30 pm, 3.00 pm and 3.30 pm (Singapore time), respectively.

The meetings are being held for the purpose of having accounts laid before the members showing the manner in which the winding up of the respective companies has been conducted and how the property of the respective companies has been disposed of and to hear any explanation that may be given by the liquidators.

The details of the liquidator is as follows:

Tan Kim Han
Joint and Several Liquidators
137 Amoy Street, #02-03, Far East Square
Singapore 049965

Note: A member is entitled to attend the above meeting and should notify the Liquidators’ team office via email to [email protected] or [email protected] no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 21 September, 2026

Ammonia

NYK wraps up first STS ammonia bunkering operation in Japan

Ammonia fuel was transferred from the ammonia carrier “Shoei Maru” via the STS method to an ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier, scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

Published

20 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

NYK wraps up first STS ammonia bunkering operation in Japan

NYK Line, on Thursday (17 September) with Japan Marine United Corporation, Nihon Shipyard Co Ltd, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, and Kokuka Sangyo Co Ltd, has completed the world’s first ship-to-ship (STS) ammonia bunkering operation to an ammonia-fuelled vessel.

At a quay within Japan Marine United Corporation’s Ariake Shipyard, ammonia fuel was transferred from the ammonia carrier Shoei Maru via the STS method to an ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier (AFMGC) scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

The operation was conducted in preparation for sea trials of the AFMGC using fuel ammonia.

“This achievement represents an important initiative that has put into practice an operation essential for the future practical deployment of ammonia-fuelled vessels,” the company said.

The bunkering operation was conducted following extensive discussions among the companies involved. Safe operating procedures and work processes were established prior to the operation, enabling the transfer to be completed safely. Through this initiative, we have accumulated practical insights regarding safe fuel supply operations.

This operation serves as a pioneering example of the fuel-supply framework that will be required for the widespread adoption of ammonia-fuelled vessels.

The AFMGC is currently in the final stage of construction and is scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

“The successful completion of this operation marks a significant milestone toward the broader commercial use of fuel ammonia and the practical deployment of ammonia-fuelled vessels. It also represents an important step forward in establishing an ammonia supply chain,” the company added.

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 21 September, 2026