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ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Above-average US fuel oil stocks, below-average distillate stocks; prompt VLSFO readily available in Argentina and Brazil; rough weather headed to GOLA, Trinidad and Zona Comun.

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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:

28 July 2022

  • Above-average US fuel oil stocks, below-average distillate stocks
  • Prompt VLSFO readily available in Argentina and Brazil
  • Rough weather headed to GOLA, Trinidad and Zona Comun

 

North America

Buyers have been looking to start the bunker procurement process further ahead in recent weeks, sources say. Both to have their ducks in a row to fix stems when the market has trended down, and to ensure fuel availability for their targeted dates. But availability has not been tight to the extremes of late, except for in a couple of locations such as Panama and Trinidad.

VLSFO and LSMGO grades are generally in good supply with suppliers in the Houston area, while HSFO can be tighter and requires around a week of lead time with one supplier.

A period of strong winds and swells between Sunday and Monday could disrupt bunkering at the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA).

LSMGO and HSFO availability prospects in New York vary between suppliers. One can deliver the grades with 3-5 days of lead time, another in seven days, while one needs 12 days.

Suppliers in Los Angeles, Long Beach and other US West Coast ports can accommodate prompt stems. The earliest delivery dates for VLSFO and LSMGO with two suppliers in San Francisco range between 4-6 days out.  

US residual fuel oil stocks have grown beyond their position at this time last year, and also above their five-year average. Fuel oil inventories averaged 2% higher in the first three weeks of July compared to the whole of June, Energy Information Administration (EIA) figures show. A 71,000 b/d drop in supply out of storage – implied demand – has supported stock levels over this period.

Imports have dropped by 95,000 b/d on the month in July. Mexico has been the US’ biggest import source since April, when Russian inflows were phased out with an embargo. US importers increasingly looked towards Mexico and the Middle East to replace Russian barrels. Algeria became its second-biggest fuel oil source in May and June, while the UAE has taken that spot in July.

A sustained period of high refinery runs has yielded more fuel oil as a by-product and supported the stock build. US refinery utilisation has averaged above 90% since the end of April. Utilisation was ramped up further from mid-May, especially on the East Coast (97-99%) and Gulf Coast (95-98%), while to a lesser extent on the West Coast (81-90%).

The 257,000 b/d capacity Richmond refinery on the West Coast is slated for a six-week crude distillation (CDU) maintenance that started 15 June, according to Wood Mackenzie, which should have held back the region’s utilisation rates.

The country’s distillate stocks remain considerably below both their level a year ago and their five-year average. East Coast distillate stocks have regained some weight after slumping to record lows in late May. This has been reflected in improved availability in East Coast bunker ports like New York.

 

Caribbean and Latin America

VLSFO can be tight in Panama, especially in Cristobal where there are considerably fewer barges delivering fuel than on the Balboa side. A supplier has no availability in Cristobal for the coming week, but can supply in Balboa. Around seven days of lead time has been advised for stems of any grade in Balboa.

Supply prospects can be patchy off Trinidad as one supplier has a barge out for drydock and no availability. Another supplier has one barge in operation, which will head to a terminal to reload product in early August and could be unavailable for deliveries for the next 11-13 days.

High winds and swells are forecast off Trinidad between Saturday and Monday, possibly holding back bunker operations.

Prompt availability is good in Zona Comun and Brazilian ports. VLSFO can be delivered in Santos with three days of lead time. VLSFO and LSMGO can be delivered by a supplier in Zona Comun with 3-4 days or less of lead time.

Zona Comun has strong winds and swells forecast on Thursday and Friday, which could halt bunker deliveries. Bunkering has been suspended by rough weather at the anchorage on two occasions in the past week.

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 29 July, 2022

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Technology

Singapore: Ofiniti, ONE trial direct platform integration to streamline bunker workflows

Ofiniti started a trial in Singapore, integrating FuelBoss directly with a bunker buyer’s own platform, with Ocean Network Express as its first buyer-side integration partner.

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Singapore: Ofiniti, ONE trial direct platform integration to streamline bunker workflows

Ofiniti, the digital platform for maritime fuel operations, on Tuesday (21 July) said it has started a trial in Singapore, integrating FuelBoss directly with a bunker buyer’s own platform.

The company announced Singapore-headquartered container shipping firm Ocean Network Express (ONE) as its first buyer-side integration partner. 

“It is no coincidence we start in Singapore, as the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) remains at the forefront of digitalisation of all things bunkering,” the company said in a social media post.

In November 2023, MPA launched its digital bunkering platform, becoming the world’s first port to implement e-BDN. 

Ofiniti said every bunker delivery still runs on retyped data. 

“The buyer’s system says one thing, the supplier says another, and someone reconciles the gap by email, phone, or PDF. On every stem,” the company said. 

“We built FuelBoss to change this reality.”

With the integration, operational data now flows without manual re-entry, fewer reconciliation errors and faster processing and data, instead of documents, are readily available for procurement and claims workflows. 

“One connection will not transform the industry on its own, but digitalisation gets built one integration at a time. We are grateful to ONE for being willing to go first,” Ofiniti added.

Manifold Times previously reported ONE completing its successful trial of the electronic Bunker Delivery Note (e-BDN) with Shell. 

The e-BDN trial, using the digital bunkering solution developed by Angsana Technology, was conducted on 9 September 2023 at the Port of Singapore, with support from the MPA.

In March 2025, Ofiniti acquired Singapore-based Angsana Technology, with the entire Angsana team joining Ofiniti as part of the acquisition.

Related: MPA Chief Executive: Port of Singapore begins digital bunkering initiative today
Related: Singapore set to become first port in the world to debut electronic bunker delivery notes
Related: ONE completes e-BDN adoption trial with Shell in Port of Singapore
Related: Ofiniti acquires Singapore-based Angsana Technology to advance digital bunkering solutions

 

Photo credit: Ofiniti
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Legal

Singapore withdraws remaining 127 charges against Hin Leong founder OK Lim

Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges on 17 July.

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RESIZED Sora Shimazaki on Pexels

Founder of collapsed oil trader Hin Leong Trading, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, has had the remaining 127 charges against him withdrawn, according to The Straits Times on Monday (20 July). 

OK Lim was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges, including those for cheating, on 17 July. The discharge means Lim cannot be prosecuted again for the same offences.

Lim, 84, is currently serving a 13½-year prison sentence after the High Court reduced his original 17½-year jail term in March 2026. He was convicted in 2024 on two cheating charges and one count of abetting forgery in a case prosecutors described as one of Singapore’s most serious trade finance frauds.

Lim was convicted in May 2024 of two charges of cheating the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and one count of abetting forgery that proceeded to trial out of a total of 130 criminal charges.

He was first charged in court on 14 August 2020, and was subsequently handed further charges in court on 25 September 2020, 30 April 2021 and 24 June 2021 for his role in perpetuating fraud on various financial institutions. 

A total of 130 charges were eventually brought against him for cheating and forgery-related offences.

Related: Singapore: Hin Leong Founder OK Lim gets jail term slashed to 13.5 years

 

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

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Winding up

Singapore: Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Coastal Logistics was reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

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RESIZED Drew Beamer

Several resolutions for Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary general meeting held on 14 July, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (4 July).

The following resolutions were duly passed during the meeting:

As Special Resolution

  • That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and accordingly the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018);

As Ordinary Resolutions

  • that Mr. Wong Pheng Cheong Martin and Ms. Koay May Yee, both care of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, One Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583 be appointed as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up; and
  • that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit; and
  • that a Committee of Inspection will not be formed.

Manifold Times previously reported Nicholas James Gronow, director of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping and Coastal Logistics, filed statutory declarations for both companies stating the firms cannot continue their businesses due to liabilities.

Both companies were reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd. 

In 2019, several vessels owned by both firms entered the sale & purchase (S&P) market in Singapore.

Related: Singapore: Director declares Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping’s inability to continue business
Related: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping in court over DBS Bank bunker tanker loan
Related: Singapore: Bunker tanker “Coastal Neptune” arrested
Related: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping, Coastal Logistics tankers enter S&P market

 

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

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