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Argus Media: Tight Singapore VLSFO supplies lift bunker prices

Bunker prices for VLSFO at the port of Singapore rallied in end-August, bolstered by tight supplies and steady gains in Ice Brent Singapore crude future, according to Argus.

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Bunker prices for very-low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) at the port of Singapore rallied in end-August, bolstered by tight supplies and steady gains in Ice Brent Singapore crude futures.

28 August 2024

The VLSFO prices rose by 4.7pc on the day and 3.5pc on the year to $656/t on a delivered on board (dob) basis on 27 August, as tight spot availability for the first half of September lifted fuel premiums. Singapore's VLSFO bunker prices were last assessed higher at $668.50/t dob on 30 January.

Prices for prompt seven days' laycan versus mid-September delivery for VLSFO saw a backwardation of $25/t as limited barges and tight VLSFO supplies pushed prices higher. Prices for the next seven days' laycan were assessed at about $670-680/t on a dob basis in Singapore, while deliveries for mid-September were indicated at around $645-655/t dob basis.

Limited blendstock components and stronger Chinese import demand have led to a near-term VLSFO supply crunch and supported increases in Singapore cargo prices from late August. Furthermore, domestic Chinese refineries reduced run rates because of limited VLSFO export quotas, resulting in higher VLSFO bunker prices in China and increased demand for imported fuel to meet domestic bunkering requirements.

Meanwhile, limited VLSFO cargo availability, coupled with delays in loading at the port of Singapore, have raised VLSFO premiums on an ex-wharf and delivered basis over the past week. Delays in VLSFO cargo deliveries and delayed loadings at port terminals forced buyers to pay a premium for VLSFO bunker fuel delivered before 10-15 September, one trader said.

"Zhoushan is much cheaper than Singapore so demand is moving there," another trader said, adding that some Singapore-based suppliers expect tight spot availability until October, overturning earlier expectations of limited availability until mid-September.

Singapore's scrubber-spread — the price difference between VLSFO and high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) for bunkering — has widened to almost a six-month high of $174/t on 27 August because of the current rally in VLSFO prices. The scrubber spread is a key indicator of margins for bunker buyers with exhaust scrubber systems installed on their ships. A wider scrubber-spread would reflect higher cost savings while maintaining low carbon emissions when using HSFO instead of VLSFO for refuelling vessels.

The tight supply of VLSFO also impacted the marine biodiesel market, with B24 prices in Singapore rising to $732.5/t on a dob basis at the close of 27 August, an increase of $35/t compared with the level on 20 August.

By Cassia Teo

 

Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 29 August, 2024

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Bunker Fuel

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 9.1% on year in January 2025

4.46 million mt of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in January, a drop from 4.91 million mt recorded during the similar month in 2024, according to MPA data.

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Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 9.1% on year in January 2025

Sales of marine fuel at Singapore port decreased by 9.1% on year in January 2025, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) data.

In total, 4.46 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,461,710 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in January, a drop from 4.91 million mt (4,906,100 mt) recorded during the similar month in 2024.

Deliveries of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in January (against on year) recorded respectively 1.66 million mt (zero from 1.66 million mt), 2.43 million mt (-15% from 2.86 million mt), 900 (+100% from zero), 3,100 mt (-77% from 13,500 mt) and zero (from zero).

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 9.1% on year in January 2025

Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in January (against on year) recorded respectively 16,000 (+100% from zero), 92,000 mt (+103% from 45,300 mt), zero (from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from zero).

LNG and methanol sales were posted respectively at 6,600 mt (-36.5% from 10,400) and zero (from zero).

A complete series of articles on Singapore bunker volumes by Manifold Times in 2024 can be found below:

Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 5.2% on year in December 2024
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales gain by 4.6% on year in November 2024
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales gain by 10.8% on year in October 2024
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales continue to increase by 2.8% on year in September 2024
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 7.2% on year in August 2024
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales up by 3.3% on year in July 2024
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales gain 8.7% in June 2024
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 6.7% in May 2024
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 0.6% on year in April 2024
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 6.4% on year in March 2024
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales up by 18.8% on year in February 2024
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales up by 12.1% on year in January 2024

 

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 14 February, 2025

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Bunker Fuel Availability

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (13 February 2025)

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

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Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (13 February 2025)

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

Note:

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

Rotterdam – Waalhaven – Maasvlakte range
Houston – Houston Harbor
Singapore – Anchorage, under SBA Scheme
Fujairah – Offshore 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: 14 February, 2025

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Bunker Fuel

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (January 2025)

China’s bonded bunker fuel sales rebounded in January with 1.64 million mt of bonded bunker fuel sold, as domestic LSFO supply increased after the release of new export quotas, according to JLC data.

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JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (January 2025)

Beijing-based commodity market information provider JLC Network Technology Co. recently shared its JLC China Bunker monthly report for January 2025 with Manifold Times through an exclusive arrangement:

China’s bonded bunker fuel sales rebound in January

China’s bonded bunker fuel sales rebounded in January, as domestic low-sulfur fuel oil (LSFO) supply increased after the release of new export quotas.

The country sold roughly 1.64 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in the month, with daily sales at 52,806 mt, gaining 2.87% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Bonded bunker fuel sales by Chimbusco, Sinopec (Zhoushan), SinoBunker and China Changjiang Bunker (Sinopec) settled at 480,000 mt, 570,000 mt, 55,000 mt and 26,000 mt in the month, while those by suppliers with regional bunkering licenses settled at 506,000 mt.

Most companies recorded higher bonded bunker fuel sales in the month, as domestic LSFO production returned to normal after China released the first batch of LSFO export quotas for 2025. Capping the upside, however, bunkering operations at Chinese ports were slowed down by the Chinese New Year holiday in late January.

China’s bonded bunker fuel exports edge down in 2024

China’s bonded bunker fuel exports edged down in 2024, as domestic refiners cut their production in view of quota tightness.

The country exported 19.63 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in the year, a modest cut of 0.24% year on year, JLC calculated, with reference to data from the General Administration of Customs of PRC (GACC).

Among the shipments, heavy bunker fuel exports settled at 18.33 million mt, accounting for 93.38%, while light bunker fuel exports settled at 1.30 million mt, accounting for 6.62%.

In December alone, China’s bonded bunker fuel exports were roughly 1.44 million mt, dropping by 20.90% month on month and 9.47% year on year, JLC calculated, with reference to the GACC data. In breakdown, heavy bunker fuel exports settled at 1.35 million mt, occupying 93.54%, while light bunker fuel exports came in at 93,000 mt, making up 6.46%.

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (January 2025)

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (January 2025)

Domestic-trade bunker fuel demand shrinks in January

Domestic-trade bunker fuel demand shrank in January, as trade in the shipping market was relatively thin during the Chinese New Year holiday.

Domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel demand was estimated at 390,000 mt in the month, down by 10,000 mt or 2.50% from the previous month, JLC’s data shows. At the same time, domestic light bunker fuel demand settled at 130,000 mt, slipping by 10,000 mt or 7.14% month on month.

Bunker fuel demand witnessed a modest increase in early January, buoyed by pre-holiday restocking. However, demand declined later in the month, as the majority of downstream buyers had completed their restocking.

Bunker Fuel Supply

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports surge in 2024

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports surged in 2024, which could mainly be ascribed to tight domestic supply.

China imported a total of 6.04 million mt of bonded bunker fuel last year, soaring by 45.92% year on year, JLC calculated, with reference to data from the GACC.

Only a few bonded distributors imported LSFO in the first half of 2024, while others prioritized imported high-sulfur fuel oil (HSFO). However, in the second half, domestic LSFO supply tightened significantly amid insufficient quotas, forcing bonded distributors to import more LSFO to fill the gap. Meanwhile, demand for imported HSFO continued to improve, as more ships were equipped with scrubbers and the import arbitrage window opened.

In December alone, China’s bonded bunker fuel imports exceeded 1 million mt and hit a 4-year high, as domestic LSFO output fell off a cliff amid persistent quota tightness. The imports amounted to 1.09 million mt in the month, jumping by 19.58% month on month and 247.21% year on year.

Singapore topped all suppliers by shipping 550,700 mt of bonded bunker fuel to China in the month, which accounted for 50.32% of the latter’s total imports. Malaysia slipped to the second place with 351,200 mt, accounting for 32.09%. Iraq and South Korea ranked third and fourth with 182,500 mt and 10,000 mt, accounting for 16.68% and 0.91%, respectively.

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (January 2025)

Domestic-trade bunker fuel supply tightens in January

Domestic-trade bunker fuel supply tightened in January, because of decreasing availability of blendstock.

Chinese blenders supplied about 400,000 mt of domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel in the month, a cut of 30,000 mt or 6.98% from a month earlier, JLC’s data indicates.

Supply of residual oil, shale oil and light coal tar tightened, forcing blenders to decelerate their bunker fuel production. Meanwhile, blendstock prices fluctuated higher amid tighter supply, which also dampened some blenders’ buying interest.

Domestic-trade light bunker fuel supply settled at 150,000 mt in January, down by 10,000 mt or 6.25% month on month, the data shows. Refineries continued to lower their operating rates, because of the Chinese New Year holiday and stricter industry regulations.

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (January 2025)

BunkerPrices, Profits

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (January 2025)

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (January 2025)

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (January 2025)

Editor
Yvette Luo
+86-020-38834382
[email protected]  

Sales (Beijing)
Tony Tang
+86-10-84428863
[email protected]  

Sales (Singapore)
Ginny Teo
+65-31571254
[email protected]
[email protected]  

JLC Network Technology Co., Ltd is recognised as the leading information provider in China. We specialise in providing the transparent, high-value, authoritative market intelligence and professional analysis in commodity market. Our expertise covers oil, gas, coal, chemical, plastic, rubber, fertilizer and metal industry, etc.

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report is published by JLC Network Technology Co., Ltd every month on China bunker market, demand, supply, margin, freight index, forecast and so on. The report provides full-scale & concise insight into China bunker oil market.

All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be photocopied, reproduced, retransmitted, put into a computer system or otherwise redistributed without prior authorization from JLC.

Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (December 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (November 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (October 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (September 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (August 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (July 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (June 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (May 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (April 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (March 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (February 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (January 2024)

Note: China-based commodity market information provider JLC Technology has been providing Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times China bunker volume data since 2020. Data from earlier periods are available here.

 

Photo credit: JLC Network Technology
Published: 13 February, 2025

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