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:

• Slow demand in several Americas ports
• Fog season hits US Gulf Coast bunkering
• Prompt availability tight in Santos

North America

Demand for all grades has mostly dropped across major bunkering ports in the Americas. But Houston has seen a jump in enquiries for all grades this week. While prompt VLSFO and LSMGO availability was reported tight at the beginning of this week, it returned to normal levels in the port as the week progressed. Lead times of 3-4 days are recommended for both grades. One supplier can offer HSFO stems with 4-5 days of lead time.

Prompt supply of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal in Bolivar Roads. Several suppliers can deliver both grades with 2-5 days of lead times. Similarly, the availability of fuel grades in Beaumont has been good this week.

Bunkering was suspended in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) and off Corpus Christi in the US Gulf Coast on Thursday due to strong gale-force wind gusts of up 47 knots in the region. Calmer weather is forecast from Friday evening, which could allow bunkering to resume.

A moderate to high risk of fog and reduced visibility is forecast around Corpus Christi, Lake Charles, Port Arthur, Galveston and Freeport from Thursday, which could delay vessel traffic around the region and through the Houston Ship Channel until Sunday, Norton Lilly says.

The channel is a key waterway for vessels going in and out of ports in the Houston area, including Galveston, Baytown and Texas City.

Similarly, a high risk of fog and reduced visibility is also forecast at the New Orleans Outer Anchorage (NOLA). A supplier said they can deliver VLSFO and HSFO stems within three days of lead time if the weather permits.

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is good in the West Coast ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Several suppliers can deliver both grades with 5-7 days of lead times. However, demand has been extremely low in both ports this week.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is said to be normal in the East Coast port of New York. Securing HSFO in the port can be difficult for prompt dates. One supplier is unable to offer fuel grades for both prompt and non-prompt dates in New York.

Caribbean and Latin America

The ongoing drought in Panama has led to increased transit delays through the channel, impacting the demand for bunkers in the region. As a result, many shipowners are opting to lift bunkers at alternative ports in the Caribbean region due to the delays in the Panama Canal.

Despite the slowdown in vessel traffic, some suppliers are offering stems with lead times of 5-7 days in the Panamanian ports of Balboa and Cristobal.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is good for prompt dates off Trinidad and in Jamaica’s Kingston.

Bunker operations have been running smoothly in Argentina’s Zona Comun anchorage so far this week. Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal in Zona Comun. Overall, bunker demand has been muted at the anchorage this week.

Strong winds of up to 31 knots are forecast to hit the region on Friday, which could disrupt bunkering at the anchorage.

Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO availability is tight in Brazil’s biggest port – Santos. Lead times can stretch out to the second week of December, a trader says. Bunker fuel availability appears to be normal in other Brazilian ports like Rio Grande, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 1 December, 2023

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

Commentary: 

Bunker fuel prices for most grades / locations are more or less inline with last week, moving only a few percentage points up or down. Availability in Singapore has eased up a bit but still a bit thin compared to other areas. Singapore specifically should be booked two weeks in advance, and both Fujairah and Khor Fakkan also showing somewhat limited availability in the first half of December.

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 on Thursdays 

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

Photo credit and source: Baltic Exchange
Published: 24 November, 2023

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:

• HSFO supply improves in the ARA
• Prompt VLSFO availability tight in Piraeus
• LSMGO is tight in Durban and Richards Bay

Northwest Europe

VLSFO availability has tightened in the ARA hub, a trader said. Lead times of 5-7 days are recommended to ensure full coverage from all suppliers, up from 3-5 days in the previous week.

HSFO supply has shown signs of improvement in the ARA hub in recent days. Some suppliers are now able to offer the grade with lead times of less than three days. However, for smooth coverage, lead times of 5-7 days are still recommended.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have averaged 14% higher so far this month, than in October, according to Insights Global data. The stocks have grown to three-month highs despite indications of lower imports.

According to cargo tracker Vortexa, the region has imported 225,000 b/d of fuel oil so far this month, down from 243,000 b/d imported in October.

The UK has emerged as the ARA's biggest fuel oil import source this month, accounting for 22% of the region's total imports. Fuel oil imports from Turkey accounted for 21% of the total imports, followed by Lithuania (10%). ARA has also sourced its fuel oil imports from Poland (6%) and Germany (5%).

Meanwhile, the ARA hub’s independent gasoil inventories — which include gasoil and heating oil — have declined by 4% this month.

HSFO availability remains tight for delivery off Skaw, partly because of fewer suppliers offering the grade. Lead times of 7-10 days are recommended for the grade.

LSMGO availability is very tight in the Norwegian port of Oslo. The grade is typically delivered by trucks and lead times of 5-7 days are recommended there, a trader says.

In the German port of Hamburg, lead times of 3-5 days are recommended for all three bunker grades

Mediterranean

Prompt HSFO supply is available in Gibraltar, with some suppliers having adequate product available to cater to prompt enquiries. Lead times of up to three days are recommended for HSFO, down from 4-6 days in the previous week.

Lead times of 3-5 days are recommended for VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries in Gibraltar, a trader says.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is good in the Portuguese ports of Lisbon and Sines, according to a source.

Due to rough weather conditions off Malta, bunker supply was only available in the more sheltered bunkering area four out of the six bunkering areas on Wednesday, port agent MH Bland said. The forecast for persistent rough weather over the coming days and through the weekend suggests that bunker operations could remain disrupted, potentially extending delivery lead times further ahead.

Some suppliers are able to supply small quantities of bunkers for prompt delivery dates off Malta as and when weather permits. Meanwhile, one supplier can offer the earliest delivery by 5 December for all three grades, a trader says.

VLSFO availability is tight in the Greek port of Piraeus. The earliest delivery date with a supplier for the grade is 5 December.

Adverse weather conditions have also impacted bunkering in the Turkish port of Istanbul. Strong winds and heavy swells have prevailed in the region since the end of last week, a source said.

Turkey’s Ceyhan and Iskenderun Bay areas have also been experiencing bad weather since Saturday. This has disrupted smooth bunker deliveries there, according to the source.

Africa

LSMGO supply remains tight in the South African ports of Richards Bay and Durban. Recommended lead times for the grade are more than ten days at both ports, according to a trader.

VLSFO availability is relatively better and lead times of up to 5-7 days are recommended in both Richards Bay and Durban.

Offshore bunkering in Algoa Bay has remained suspended for nearly three months now. The deliveries came to a standstill after the South African Revenue Service (SARS) detained bunker barges over import duty disputes in September

Negotiations between offshore bunker suppliers and authorities have reached an advanced stage and a decision may be announced in December, a port agent told ENGINE. 

Meanwhile, bunker supply is available in the adjacent Port Elizabeth, where only one supplier is delivering stems, the port agent added.

Bunker demand has spiked in Mozambique's ports of Nacala and Maputo in recent months because of the ongoing bunkering crisis in Algoa Bay. One supplier has recently received a new VLSFO cargo at Nacala, which could ease supply pressure and help cater to increased demand.

“The arrival of a new VLSFO cargo at Nacala has helped ease supply pressure and reduce lead times for booking stems,” the supplier said.

Availability is good for all three bunker grades in Nacala. Meanwhile, VLSFO availability is tight in Maputo with one supplier able to supply the grade from 7 December. LSMGO availability is normal in the port.

By Manjula Nair

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 30 November, 2023