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Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (29 May 2025)

US importers face tariff uncertainty; HSFO extremely tight in Balboa; Ecuador’s largest refinery halts operations.

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Published

1 year ago

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RESIZED ENGINE Americas

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:

  • US importers face tariff uncertainty
  • HSFO extremely tight in Balboa
  • Ecuador’s largest refinery halts operations

North America

Bunker demand in Houston has improved, compared to the beginning of May. Fuel availability is good at the port for prompt delivery with recommended lead times of 5-7 days.

The closure of the Houston Ship Channel between the Intracoastal Waterway was lifted earlier on Tuesday, and the channel is now open to all traffic. The channel is a vital waterway for ports in Houston, Galveston, Baytown, and Texas City.

Within the last 24 hours, 72 vessels have arrived at the Houston port, and 138 ships are expected to come in the next 30 days.

New York recorded an increase in bunker demand compared to last week, causing an increase in spot market activity observed at the New York Harbour and Philadelphia.

VLSFO and LSMGO are available at the port for prompt delivery, with suppliers recommending lead times of 3-5 days. However, HSFO availability is tight this week and requires lead times of at least 7 days.

Possible disruptions are expected at the port due to high wind gusts until the end of the week. This can lead to delays in bunker deliveries. “Standby tug may be needed, if conditions require,” a source noted.

Bunker deliveries in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) are currently underway, although delays are expected. Operations may face further disruptions this week due to high wind gusts.

At Los Angeles, bunker fuel availability and demand remain steady. Suppliers have recommended lead times of under a week.

Import volumes have dipped this week, with 64,403 TEU expected to arrive on 15 vessels between 25-31 May, which is a decline of 37.40% from the previous week and 29.91% below the same period last year.

However, a rebound is projected for the upcoming week between 1-7 June, with volumes rising to 94,189 TEU across 16 vessels, up 46.25% week-on-week and 4.77% higher year-on-year.

The West Coast port isn’t anticipating a major rise in imports during the current pause in China tariffs.

“We’ll likely see a modest increase in bookings from China, but nothing close to the 30% surge seen at the height of the COVID-19 peak,” said Executive Director Gene Seroka during a monthly briefing.

He noted that while bookings at Asian ports are increasing, persistently high shipping costs are prompting importers to remain cautious with their planning.

Meanwhile, the US Court of International Trade has challenged the President’s authority to impose unilateral reciprocal tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), stating that such actions require approval in Congress.

The court issued a permanent injunction and ordered the administration to implement it within 10 days, potentially suspending tariffs such as the 30% on Chinese goods and 25% on select imports from Mexico and Canada.

Lars Jensen, chief executive of Vespucci Maritime, notes, “In practical terms, this ruling introduces added uncertainty for US importers. Beyond the usual risks tied to shifting tariff policies, there’s now doubt over whether the announced tariffs can even be legally enforced. It also raises the possibility that tariffs paid in recent weeks could be refunded if, after appeals, the measures are deemed unlawful—giving shippers a strong case for reimbursement.”

Montreal is bracing for possible disruptions from high wind gusts. The port is already experiencing backlog congestion, with barge operations limited to daylight hours.

Caribbean and Latin America

Market demand in Panama has been weak, according to suppliers.

While VLSFO and LSMGO are available for prompt delivery with lead times of 4–5 days, HSFO remains very tight and requires lead times extending more than 7 days.

Drought conditions continue to affect transit through the Panama Canal, causing delays in vessel movement.

A source noted, “The drought does influence bunker price indications, but the impact tends to show up as moderate fluctuations rather than sharp spikes or drops.”

Operations at Ecuador’s largest refinery, the 110,000 b/d Esmeraldas facility, have been halted following a fire. Petroecuador confirmed on Monday that the fire has been extinguished, but the shutdown remains in place as a precaution.

The shutdown could tighten local fuel supply and impact bunker availability in the region.

Ecuador’s competitive advantage comes from its high yield of residual fuel oil, making it more profitable for bunker buyers to lift HSFO at Ecuadorian ports due to its pricing advantage over low-sulphur grades in other regional ports.

In Argentina, a new oil tanking berth at Bahia Blanca is set to open in August 2025. This will handle Aframax and Suezmax tankers, which are expected to increase vessel traffic.

The San Pedro access channel, located upriver along the Paraná River in Argentina, has seen a sharp reduction in depth, from 9.80 m to 6.50 m, following the refloating of the grounded tanker Yasa Tokyo.

This drop in navigable draft by over 3 m poses challenges for deep-draft vessels, potentially affecting bunker calls and cargo operations at upriver ports, Antares Ship Agents informed.

Water levels in the Paraná River basin remain low but are showing a slight rise due to recent rainfall.

Forecasts expect stable conditions in the coming months, depending on continued precipitation in the Paraguay and Argentine basins and stable rainfall in Brazil.

In Brazil, bunker fuel availability is good in the key ports of Santos, Rio De Janeiro, and Rio Grande. VLSFO and LSMGO are available for prompt delivery with lead times of 5-7 days.

The port of Santos is currently congested and is expected to clear in the next 5 days. Fifty vessels have arrived at the port within the past 24 hours, and 154 ships are expected to arrive in the next 30 days.

In Zona Comun, VLSFO availability is tight with lead times ranging between 10-12 days. Four barges are currently active at the anchorage.

Possible disruptions are expected due to strong wind gusts between 30 May and 2 June. Deliveries were suspended on Wednesday but have since resumed; however, they may face another halt tomorrow, a source noted.

By Gautamee Hazarika

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 30 May, 2025

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Bunker Fuel

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (3 September 2026)

Bunker report panellists include Island Oil Limited, Cockett Marine Oil Pte, Monjasa A/S, KPI OceanConnect, NSI Marine and Transparensea Fuels.
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Published

3 days ago

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September 4, 2026

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Baltic Exchange logo

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

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (3 September 2026) Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (3 September 2026)

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: 4 September, 2026

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Bunker Fuel

ENGINE: Americas Fuel Availability Outlook (3 September 2026)

New York sees healthy bunker demand; availability improves in Los Angeles; VLSFO and LSMGO tight in Rio de Janeiro.
Admin

Published

3 days ago

on

September 4, 2026

By

RESIZED ENGINE Americas

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:

  • New York sees healthy bunker demand
  • Availability improves in Los Angeles
  • VLSFO and LSMGO tight in Rio de Janeiro

North America

In Houston, bunker demand has been strong over the past week, and prompt availability is bit tight across all three conventional grades.

HSFO and VLSFO require lead times of 5–7 days, and LSMGO can be delivered by most suppliers within 4–5 days, a trader said.

At the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA), operations are being conducted on a first-come, first-served basis and remain subject to weather conditions.

Recommended lead times for all three grades stand at 5–8 days at the anchorage this week.

Mobile Bay stands out this week, with visibility dropping as low as 1 nautical mile during high-risk periods recurring almost daily through 9 September. Elsewhere, sea fog risk along the US Gulf Coast is mostly low.

Moderate risk builds through midweek at Port Arthur, Lake Charles, Marsh Island, Port Fourchon, New Orleans and Venice, while Texas ports, Pascagoula and Tampa stay largely clear, bar a few brief moderate spells.

In New York, bunker demand has been good. HSFO and VLSFO are tight for prompt supply, with lead times of 6–8 days, and LSMGO is available within 3–5 days.

No backlog or bunker barge readiness issues have been reported. Weather conditions are forecast to remain calm and conducive for bunkering at the port, a source said.

The Atlantic hurricane season is currently ongoing, with three active hurricanes — Karina and Marie in the Eastern Pacific, and Lowell in the Central Pacific.

The National Hurricane Center has issued advisories on all three. Additional marine warnings are also in effect in the Eastern Pacific region.

On the US West Coast, fuel availability across all three conventional grades has improved since the past week, a trader said. At the port of Los Angeles and Long Beach, some suppliers can now deliver VLSFO and LSMGO in a week’s time, compared to last week’s 10 days, while HSFO lead times remain unchanged at 7 days.

Recently, the Port of Los Angeles approved a 30-year lease extension with Yusen Terminals, keeping the operator at the port through 2056, and adding a further $200 million investment in zero-emission equipment.

At Canada’s Vancouver, VLSFO has been a bit tight over the past week, with recommended lead times currently over 5 days, a source said. HSFO and LSMGO have good availability, with lead times of 5–7 days.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Bunker availability is good for HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO at Panama’s Balboa and Cristobal, and demand has picked up this week, a trader told ENGINE.

Suppliers are recommending lead times of 3–5 days for all three fuel grades.

In Brazil, HSFO is no longer available, and lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO vary across the country’s ports.

Santos is congested, but availability is normal for VLSFO and LSMGO, with recommended lead times of 5–8 days.

Availability is tight for both grades in Rio de Janeiro this week, and supply is only available under prior consultation, a source said.

Rio Grande is reporting no availability for LSMGO, and VLSFO is available and can be supplied by most suppliers within a week.

At Paranaguá, Belém and Vila do Conde, VLSFO and LSMGO have decent availability, with lead times ranging between 4–7 days.

Punta Colorada in Argentina is set for a step up in activity, with two floating LNG (FLNG) units due onstream there by the end of 2027.

The Hilli Episeyo, currently repositioning from Cameroon via Singapore, and the Esperanza, a converted LNG carrier, will together add just over 6 million tonnes of annual LNG production capacity once both are running, Antares Shipping Agency said.

Bunkering operations in Argentina’s Zona Comun are continuing, despite choppy conditions at the anchorage.

Strong winds are expected to persist through the week, with the potential to interrupt bunkering, if winds exceed above 20 knots. Supplies of VLSFO and LSMGO are normal, and delivery lead times are currently running at 5-7 days, a source said.

By Gautamee Hazarika

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 4 September, 2026

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Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Fuel Availability Outlook (2 Sep 2026)

Prompt fuel supplies are tight in the ARA; high cruise demand tightens availability in Piraeus; lead times of 5-7 days required in Durban.
Admin

Published

4 days ago

on

September 3, 2026

By

RESIZED ENGINE Europe and Africa

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 fuel supplies are tight in the ARA
  • High cruise demand tightens availability in Piraeus
  • Lead times of 5-7 days required in Durban

Northwest Europe

Fuel availability is tight in the ARA for prompt delivery dates, with buyers advised lead times between 5-7 days for deliveries of HSFO, VLSFO, ULSFO and LSMGO fuel grades, a trader said.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have averaged 15% higher in August thus far, compared to July’s monthly average, according to Insights Global data.

The ARA hub has imported around 344,000 b/d of fuel oil in August thus far, more than double July’s monthly average of around 159,000 b/d, according to Vortexa cargo flows data. The largest volumes arrived from Benin (20%), Venezuela (15%) and Mexico (8%).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories – which include diesel and heating oil – have dropped by 1% in August so far, compared to July, according to the Insights Global data.

The region has imported around 156,000 b/d of gasoil in August thus far, up from an average of around 119,000 b/d imported in July, according to Vortexa data. A majority of shipments arrived from the US (36%), Sweden (12%) and the UK (10%).

Bunker fuel availability is stable in Germany’s Hamburg port, a trader told ENGINE. Buyers are recommended a notice of five days to get delivery of any fuel grade.

Fuel availability is tight off Denmark Skaw and in Sweden’s Gothenburg, with buyers advised lead times of 10-14 days for deliveries of any fuel grade, a trader said.

Mediterranean

Bunker availability is tight for prompt dates at ports in the Strait of Gibraltar, with buyers advised earliest delivery dates of around 10-12 days out to get good coverage, a trader told ENGINE.

Suppliers in Gibraltar are running 4-12 hours behind schedule on deliveries, according to port agent MH Bland. In Algeciras, suppliers are running between 6-24 hours delayed, the port agent added. In Spain’s Ceuta, some deliveries at barge could be delayed by 6-8 hours, MH Bland said.

In Barcelona, buyers should book supplies at least a week before deliveries, a trader told ENGINE.

Prompt fuel availability is tight in Las Palmas, with buyers recommended lead times of around 10-12 days, a trader told ENGINE.

VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries off Malta require between 3-4 days of notice while ULSFO deliveries require six days of lead time, according to a trader. Some suppliers are offering prompt deliveries as well, the trader added.

Fuel availability is tight in Greece’s Piraeus for prompt supplies due to increased demand from cruise vessels, with buyers recommended lead times of seven days for HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO, while ULSFO supplies need a 5-day notice, a trader said.

Prompt fuel availability is okay in Turkey’s Istanbul for most marine fuels, a local supplier told ENGINE. LSMGO and ULSFO deliveries need 1-3 days of notice, while VLSFO needs 2-4 days’ time, a trader said. HSFO availability is slightly tight for prompt supplies in Istanbul, with buyers advised 4-7 days of lead time, the trader added.

Africa

In Togo’s Lome and off Namibia’s Walvis Bay, fuel availability is tight for prompt supplies of VLSFO and LSMGO, with buyers recommended a week of notice for both fuel grades.

VLSFO is not available in Angola’s Luanda, a supplier told ENGINE. LSMGO availability is comparatively stable, and a notice of 3-4 days is sufficient for deliveries of the fuel grade, the supplier added.

In Nigeria’s Lagos anchorage, prompt fuel supplies are tight, and buyers are advised lead times of 5-10 days, a local supplier said.

In South Africa’s Durban, prompt fuel supplies of all three grades are tight, a trader said. Buyers are advised a week’s notice for any fuel grade.

Bunker availability is tight in Port Louis, with suppliers requiring notice of around 10-14 days, a trader said.

In the Mozambican ports of Nacala and Maputo, VLSFO supplies are tight and need lead times of a week, a trader told ENGINE.

By Nachiket Tekawade

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 3 September, 2026

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