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:

• Houston bunker fuel availability remains tight
• West coast demand has tweaked
• Fuel availability at Colombian ports is good

North America

Bunker availability in Houston remains tight, with supply constraints expected to persist through the first week of April.

Given the limited availability, lead times of more than a week are recommended to ensure smooth procurement.

Earlier in the week, pilot operations in Houston resumed, following a temporary suspension caused by dense fog and poor visibility, which had disrupted inbound and outbound sailings through the Houston Ship Channel.

The U.S. Gulf is currently in its fog season, a period during which dense fog frequently disrupts maritime operations, leading to delays in vessel movements and pilot services across major ports such as Houston, Galveston, New Orleans, Port Arthur, and Corpus Christi.

In New York, supply remains relatively stable across all grades. Suppliers advise securing orders slightly in advance, with lead times of around seven days, to guarantee availability and steer clear of higher prompt prices.

The region may experience periods of strong winds and rough sea conditions, which could impact bunker operations.

In the West Coast, ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, appears to be well-supplied, but demand signals have been weak. “There have been no firm inquiries for this region in the past week,” a source said.

Weather conditions remain favorable for bunker deliveries, with suppliers recommending lead times of 6-7 days.

Bunker deliveries in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) are ongoing but are expected to be suspended on 27 March due to rough weather conditions.

Disruptions are likely to persist through 30 March, potentially affecting scheduling and delaying operations.

Bunker operations in Montreal could face delays between 27-30 March due to strong wind gusts, potentially disrupting deliveries.

With bunker barges operating only during daylight hours, congestion remains a concern, limiting flexibility in scheduling.

Caribbean and Latin America

Bunker availability in Panama remains stable, with steady supply across all fuel grades, a source says.

Suppliers recommend lead times of at least seven days in advance to ensure smooth deliveries in both Balboa and Cristobal.

VLSFO supply at the Zona Comun anchorage remains tight, with current lead times stand at approximately 10 days.

Strong winds exceeding 20 knots are expected to persist at the anchorage until 30 March, posing a risk to disrupt operations through Sunday.

A refinery in the region earlier this week was undercutting the market as it struggled with excess stock, offering VLSFO at $560 to clear storage, a source said. The refinery’s barge is also set to enter drydock, taking it out of service for approximately a month.

Meanwhile, a major supplier with both upstream and downstream operations has priced its VLSFO at $590 and expressed concerns over being undercut. Overall demand for VLSFO remains stable.

Availability across all grades is good in Santa Marta, Barranquilla, and Cartagena, in Colombia with recommended lead times of 3 days, another source said.

By Gautamee Hazarika

Photo credit and source: ENGINE|
Published: 28 March, 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

Fujairah – Offshore Anchorage Area
Gibraltar – Anchorage area
Houston – Houston Harbor
Panama – (Pacific) dangerous cargo area, Balboa
Rotterdam – Waalhaven – Maasvlakte range
Singapore – Anchorage, under SBA Scheme
Zhoushan – Southern 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: 28 March, 2025

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:

• Prompt HSFO & VLSFO tight in the ARA
• Lead times stretched in Gibraltar
• Prompt supply good in Port Louis

Northwest Europe

HSFO continues to be very tight in the ARA hub, with recommended lead times of 8-10 days amid product loading delays, a trader said. VLSFO supply is relatively better, and lead times of 5-7 days are recommended. LSMGO availability is normal with prompt lead times of 3-5 days. 

Ample VLSFO availability, coupled with tighter HSFO supplies, has shrunk Hi5 spreads globally. HSFO has been generally tight around the world amid constraints in fuel oil exports. “HSFO cracks have remained relatively robust, given the ongoing tightness in Russian fuel oil exports. The disconnectivity in supplies for both grades has led to a narrowing of Hi5 spreads,” Xavier Tang, a Vortexa analyst, told ENGINE. 

Meanwhile, the ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks are down by 11% so far this month compared to February, according to Insights Global data.

At 7.46 million barrels, the region’s fuel oil stocks are at their lowest so far this year. The region has imported 196,000 b/d of fuel oil so far this month, down from 298,000 b/d of fuel oil in February, according to data from cargo tracker Vortexa.  

Mexico (18% of the total) has emerged as the region’s topmost import source. Other import sources include the UK (17%), Poland and Lithuania (11% each), Germany (10%) and France (9%). 

The region’s independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil – have averaged 11% lower so far this month. The ARA hub has imported 224,000 b/d of gasoil and diesel so far this month, marking a slight decline from 277,000 b/d imported in February, according to Vortexa data.

Germany’s Hamburg has normal availability across all three grades, a trader said. Lead times of 3-5 days are recommended. 

Mediterranean

In Gibraltar, all three grades are tight for prompt delivery. Lead times have stretched since last week, with 7-9 days recommended for all three grades, a trader said. Bad weather from last week triggered a backlog of 30 vessels waiting for bunkers in Gibraltar on Sunday. Congestion has since eased and is down to seven vessels from 12 vessels yesterday, according to port agent MH Bland. 

Supplies have tightened in Las Palmas, with lead times up from 5-7 days last week to 8-10 days now, a trader said. The port has been facing rough weather and strong swells in the port area, MH Bland said.     

Meanwhile, in the other Mediterranean ports of Istanbul, Piraeus and Malta Offshore, bunker availability is currently good, a trader said. 

Lead times of 3-5 days are advised for bunkers in Istanbul, a trader said, while similar lead times are also recommended in Greece’s Piraeus. 

Malta Offshore has restarted bunkering operations on Wednesday after being suspended since Monday due to bad weather, MH Bland said. Adverse weather may complicate bunkering off Malta as rough weather is forecast till Saturday, a trader said.  

Africa

VLSFO is still tight in the South African ports of Durban and Richards Bay, with recommended lead times of 7-10 days, a trader said. LSMGO remains dry in Durban. 

In Mauritius’ Port Louis, prompt availability is good, with suppliers able to offer all three grades within lead times of 5-7 days, a trader said. 

Availability is fine off Luanda, a source told ENGINE. Lead times of around 3-5 days are advised for both grades. 

Mozambique’s Nacala and Maputo ports also have good supplies of all grades, a source told ENGINE. HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO availability is good in Nacala, while VLSFO and LSMGO supply is normal in Maputo. 

By Manjula Nair

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 27 March, 2025