Bunker Fuel

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (21 May 2026)

Bunker demand rises in Los Angeles; Rio Grande fuel availability improves; high winds disrupt deliveries off Trinidad.

Published

3 months ago

May 22, 2026

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:

Bunker demand rises in Los Angeles
Rio Grande fuel availability improves
High winds disrupt deliveries off Trinidad

North America

In the US Gulf Coast region, the bunker market remains active, with strong demand in Houston.

Prompt fuel availability across all three conventional grades is currently tight, with lead times for HSFO and LSMGO between 6-8 days. VLSFO has required at least five days of lead time this week, a trader said.

The US Gulf remains in its seasonal fog period, although sea fog and visibility threats across major Gulf Coast ports are expected to stay largely within low-to-moderate levels through 27 May.

Ports including Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Freeport, Galveston and Port Arthur are forecast to face mostly moderate visibility threats in the coming days, while Port Fourchon, Pascagoula and Mobile are forecast with low-to-moderate fog.

Tampa is expected to maintain mostly low fog threat levels. Widespread severe fog disruptions are not anticipated, though intermittent visibility issues could still affect vessel movements and bunker deliveries at some ports.

Bunker demand in New York is steady this week, although fuel prices are seeing some upward pressure from fluctuating fuel availability across the US East Coast.

LSMGO supply is expected to tighten further, with current lead times at 3–4 days. Prompt availability for HSFO and VLSFO remains constrained, with recommended lead times extending to 7–10 days, according to a source.

On the US West Coast, bunker demand in Los Angeles and Long Beach has increased modestly over the past week. Advised lead times for all three fuel grades are at 7–9 days.

Weather conditions remain favourable in Los Angeles and are expected to support smooth bunker operations.

Latin America and the Caribbean

In Panama, bunker demand has remained strong, and bunker prices continue to be elevated in Balboa and Cristobal, according to a trader.

Fuel availability at both the ports is generally normal, with most suppliers able to deliver VLSFO and LSMGO within 3–5 days, while HSFO lead times stand at 4–6 days.

Bunker deliveries off Trinidad are facing weather-related suspensions.

“High seas have been impacting that area, but they are able to do deliveries if the receiving vessel is able to shield the supply vessel from the waves,” a trader tells ENGINE.

The area may face disruptions between 21–22 May due to high wind gusts and rough sea conditions, with weather-related suspensions are currently affecting operations.

In Colombia, bunker demand has held steady, with good VLSFO and LSMGO availability reported across Cartagena, Barranquilla and Santa Marta. Lead times for both grades are currently around 4–5 days, a source said.

In Brazil, congestion persists at the port of Santos, although VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains normal with lead times of 5–8 days recommended.

Supply conditions across Rio de Janeiro, Paranagua, Belem and Vila do Conde are also stable, with lead times holding at 4–5 days.

Availability in Rio Grande has improved, with VLSFO and LSMGO supply returning to normal and suppliers now able to complete deliveries in under a week, according to a source.

In Argentina’s Zona Comun, bunker supply operations are running smoothly, with VLSFO and LSMGO lead times at 5–6 days, a local source told ENGINE.

The source added that a record agricultural harvest is drawing increased vessel traffic into the region, which is expected to support stronger bunker demand in the coming weeks.

By Gautamee Hazarika

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 22 May, 2026

Up Next

Algae-based biofuel project in Oman targets bunker fuel demand

Don't Miss

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (21 May 2026)

Sanctions

US targets five bunker companies in latest sanctions campaign against Iran

US sanctioned Hong Kong-based Shipoil Limited and its sister companies, Dubai-based Shipoil FZCO and Ship Fuels and Trade DMCC as well as two UAE-based companies.

Published

12 hours ago

August 26, 2026

Admin

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Monday (24 August) sanctioned five bunker companies, alleging they supplied marine fuel to vessels carrying Iranian crude oil and to ships linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL).

US reportedly imposed sanctions on IRISL in late 2019, describing it as “the preferred shipping line for Iranian proliferators and procurement agents”, which included transporting items intended for Iran’s ballistic missile programme.

“Sanctioned Iranian actors, to include those associated with its armed forces, rely on a vast network of shipping facilitators in multiple jurisdictions to enable the transportation and delivery of Iranian crude oil to markets in East Asia, to include vessel brokers, bunkering service providers, and financial intermediaries,” US OFAC said in a statement.

Since at least 2023, US OFAC said Hong Kong-based Shipoil Limited and its sister companies, Dubai-based Shipoil FZCO and Ship Fuels and Trade DMCC—operated by Greek nationals Almpertos “Alberto” Tsoris and Georgios “George” Tsoris—coordinated with “sanctioned Iranian actors” including the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), to provide bunkering services to vessels carrying Iranian crude oil and other petroleum products.

In 2026, Alberto Tsoris allegedly coordinated with NITC and the Shamkhani network via Shipoil FZCO and Ship Fuels and Trade DMCC to provide bunkering to the sanctioned oil tanker MEDNA (IMO: 9281683), formerly known as the ANTHEA and SIRI, a vessel which has carried crude oil for Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff.

Similarly, George Tsoris used Shipoil FZCO and Ship Fuels and Trade DMCC to provide vessel bunkering services to a mix of subsidiaries and front companies for IRISL. In 2026, UAE-based Unique Oasis Shipping Services LLC and Target Horizon Shipping LLC collaborated with Shipoil Limited and Ship Fuels and Trade DMCC to provide “hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of bunkering services to an IRISL-linked vessel”.

In mid-2026, George Tsoris provided bunkering services to the sanctioned IRISL vessel BEHTA in coordination with IRISL subsidiary, UAE-based Good Luck Shipping LLC, and Unique Oasis Shipping Services LLC.

According to US OFAC, Shipoil Limited, Shipoil FZCO, and Ship Fuels and Trade DMCC operate within the same corporate network, share company leadership, and transfer funds between themselves.

“Shipoil Limited has transferred millions of dollars to Shipoil FZCO,” it said.

Almpertos Tsoris, Shipoil FZCO, and Ship Fuels and Trade DMCC were designated pursuant to Executive Order 13902 for operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. Shipoil Limited is being designated pursuant to Executive Order for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Shipoil FZCO.

Georgios Tsoris, Good Luck Shipping LLC, Unique Oasis Shipping Services LLC, and Target Horizon Shipping LLC are being designated pursuant to Executive Order 13382 for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological, or other support for, or goods or services in support of, IRISL.

Photo credit: tommao wang on Unsplash
Published: 26 August, 2026

LNG Bunkering

CIMC SOE starts construction of two LNG bunkering vessels for GSX Energy

The two 20,000-cubic-metre vessels are the third and fourth in a series of four 20,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessels that CIMC Pacific Offshore is constructing for GSX Energy.

Published

12 hours ago

August 26, 2026

Admin

CIMC SOE starts construction of two LNG bunkering vessels for GSX Energy

Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) on Friday (21 August) held a groundbreaking ceremony for two 20,000-cubic-metre LNG bunkering vessels being built for GSX Energy.

The two vessels are the third and fourth in a series of four 20,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessels that CIMC Pacific Offshore is constructing for GSX Energy.

Construction of the first vessel began in May, while the second vessel commenced construction on 10 August.

The vessels are 159 metres long, with a beam of 25 metres and a design speed of 13 knots. Each will be equipped with a Wärtsilä dual-fuel main engine and a 1,300 kW shaft generator to meet power requirements during normal operations. A high-voltage shore power system can also be installed at a later stage.

“The simultaneous commencement of construction on both vessels marks a new phase of accelerated construction for this series of projects, fully demonstrating CIMC SOE’s construction capabilities and project management expertise,” CIMC SOE said.

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 26 August, 2026

Bunker Fuel

IndianOil begins construction of USD 25 mil bunker fuel storage facility in Mauritius

With an investment of USD 25 million, the facility will significantly boost bunkering capabilities of IndianOil (Mauritius) and Mauritius’ ambitions as a strategic bunkering hub.

Published

12 hours ago

August 26, 2026

Admin

IndianOil begins construction of USD 25 mil bunker fuel storage facility in Mauritius

IndianOil (Mauritius), a subsidiary of state-owned energy company IndianOil, on Friday (21 August) said it has broken ground on its new bunker fuel storage facility in Mer Rouge, Mauritius.

The company said India’s Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, laid the foundation stone for the 27,500 metric tonnes (mt) capacity facility.

“With an investment of USD 25 million, the facility will significantly boost IOML’s bunkering capabilities and Mauritius’ ambitions as a strategic bunkering hub,” it said in a brief social media post.

According to a video by the company in the post, IndianOil (Mauritius) plans to increase its bunkering volume to more than 400 TKL by 2029 to 2030.

“As Mauritius charts new horizons in its Blue Economy, IndianOil is proud to power the journey ahead.”

According to its website, IndianOil is a bunker fuels and marine lubricants supplier in India having bunkering operations at 15 ports across 7517 kms long Indian coastline.

Having bunkering terminals at 15 ports, IndianOil supplies bunkers at over 60 Indian ports that include at all major ports of India. Apart from fuelling the growth of maritime trade in India, Indian Oil supplies 100% bunker requirement of the Indian Navy.

Photo credit: IndianOil
Published: 26 August, 2026