Bunker Fuel

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (12 Dec 2024)

Fog season to impact US Gulf Coast bunkering; tight availability in West Coast ports; bunkering suspended in Zona Comun.

Published

5 months ago

December 13, 2024

Admin

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:

Fog season to impact US Gulf Coast bunkering
Tight availability in West Coast ports
Bunkering suspended in Zona Comun

North America

Bunker fuel demand has been good in Houston this week, but availability for all grades has been tight for prompt delivery dates. Most suppliers can offer VLSFO and LSMGO stems with a lead time of 6-7 days in Houston. HSFO will generally require a longer lead time.

Thick fog and reduced visibility are forecast for the rest of this week, which could disrupt bunkering operations and vessel traffic in Houston and at ports along the US Gulf Coast, bunker suppliers and shipping sources said.

A moderate to high risk of fog may lead to intermittent closures of the Houston Ship Channel starting later today and continuing through Thursday, sources said. The channel, a vital waterway for ports in Houston, Galveston, Baytown, and Texas City, often faces closures during the Gulf Coast’s winter fog season, which runs until March.

“Channel closures could lead to vessel congestion and supply delays,” one source said. “Barges transiting the ship channel, as well as cargo loading and reloading operations, may face intermittent delays,” a source added.

Ports such as Galveston, which rely on the Houston Ship Channel, are likely to be affected, although localised weather conditions can sometimes allow traffic in Houston to continue while operations at Galveston are suspended.

Securing both prompt and non-prompt stems for all fuel grades is tight at the New Orleans Outer Anchorage (NOLA) and in the Port of Mobile. Some suppliers are unable to provide an exact date for when they will have the supply available to resume offers.

In the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA), bunker operations were suspended on Thursday morning due to rough weather conditions. A short window of calm weather on Friday morning could enable bunker operations to resume briefly in GOLA before conditions worsen again.

Prompt availability is tight in the West Coast ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Lead times of 8-10 days are generally recommended to secure VLSFO and LSMGO in both locations.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in the East Coast port of New York. Overall, bunker demand has been slow in New York so far this week.

Caribbean and Latin America

Bunker fuel demand has been normal in Panama’s Balboa and Cristobal. Product availability is also good in both locations, with several suppliers able to supply all fuel grades with a lead time of 5-7 days.

Bunkering operations are expected to be suspended in Zona Comun on Thursday afternoon amid rough weather conditions. Bad weather is expected over the weekend, which may cause prolonged delays.

Demand has been good in Brazilian ports this week. Availability has been good in most of the ports, and some suppliers can offer grades at a lower price than usual, a source says.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 13 December, 2024

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FueLNG, a joint venture between Keppel Offshore & Marine and Shell Eastern Petroleum Pte Ltd, marked the milestone with bunker tanker FueLNG Bellina successfully refuelling BYD Shenzhen, the world’s largest LNG-fuelled car carrier, at Singapore anchorage during its maiden voyage.

“With a capacity of 9,200 vehicles and equipped with dual-fuel LNG propulsion, the BYD SHENZHEN represents the next generation of low-emission maritime transport,” it said in a social media post.

Shell said it supported BYD Shenzhen on its maiden voyage as the supplier of the LNG bunker fuel.

“Like all LNG dual fuel vessels, BYD Shenzhen is on the pathway to net zero emissions. She can take bio-LNG, and in the future e-LNG, in her fuel mix for further emission reduction and regulatory compliance,” it said in a separate social media post.

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Hong Kong: CPN hits new record for China’s largest B24 biofuel bunkering operation

Chimbusco Pan Nation delivered 6,300 mt of B24-VLSFO in Hong Kong to boxship “XIN LOS ANGELES” on 15 May, exceeding its previous record of 5,500 mt delivered in February 2025.

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Hong Kong: CPN hits new record for China's largest B24 biofuel bunkering operation

Hong Kong-based bunker supplier Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical (CPN) on Friday (16 May) said it has set a record for China’s largest B24 marine biofuel bunkering operation.

CPN said it delivered 6,300 metric tonnes (mt) of B24-VLSFO in Hong Kong to container ship XIN LOS ANGELES on 15 May.

The supply exceeded CPN’s previous record of 5,500 mt delivered to the same ship in February 2025.

“This collaboration reinforces CPN’s ability to execute large-scale marine biofuel bunkering with precision and reliability,” the company said in a social media post.

“By consistently supplying large volumes of B24 marine biofuel, CPN supports reduced carbon emissions and sustainable shipping practices globally.”

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Tigonic launches physical bunker fuel supply operations by barge at Khorfakkan

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Tigonic launches physical bunker fuel supply operations by barge at Khorfakkan

Dubai-based energy trading and bunker supply firm Tigonic on Thursday (15 May) said it has launched its physical bunker supply operations at Khorfakkan, UAE by barge and has completed its first successful deliveries of bunker fuel in the past few days.

The company said the move enhances Tigonic’s regional supply capabilities with barge-based delivery of Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) and Marine Gas Oil (MGO) along the vital East Coast of the UAE.

Tigonic also supplies bunker fuel at the port of Sharjah in UAE by trucks and may expand into other ports in the region in the foreseeable future.

Tigonic’s operational expansion into physical supply with its dedicated bunker barge enables the company to deliver marine fuels directly at anchorage.

“This launch marks a significant milestone in our service evolution,” said the team at Tigonic.

“With physical supply now live at Khorfakkan, we are elevating our ability to provide fast, flexible, and reliable marine fuel solutions to the global fleet.”

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Photo credit: Tigonic
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