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 in Houston remains weak
• Argentina authorised voluntary use of biofuels
• VLSFO availability in Zona Comun improves

North America

Bunker demand in Houston remains weak across all fuel grades. Both VLSFO and LSMGO are readily available, with recommended lead times of 3–5 days. HSFO is also stocked, though prompt deliveries may face delays due to barge congestion, requiring lead times of at least 7 days and above.

In the last 24 hours, 77 vessels have arrived at the port, and 122 more are expected over the next 30 days.

The US Gulf region has entered its hurricane season, which will last through 30 November.

“This is likely to bring bouts of bad weather that could disrupt bunkering operations, particularly around the Bolivar Roads anchorage,” a source noted.

In Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA), deliveries are suspended due to high seas and are likely to remain so until the afternoon of 13 June.

Bunker operations are being carried out on a first-come, first-served basis, where weather conditions allow.

In New York, bunker demand remains good. All fuel grades are available at the port for prompt delivery, with suppliers recommending lead times of around 5 days.

High wind gusts are forecast between 12–13 June at the port, which could lead to disruptions. No backlog congestion or barge readiness issues are currently reported.

Both bunker fuel availability and demand at the Port of Los Angeles remain steady. Suppliers say they can deliver all the fuel grades in less than 7 days.

While importers have been frontloading cargo in anticipation of the upcoming end to the tariff pause, according to the Port of Los Angeles’ Port Optimizer, import volumes declined during the week between 8–14 June, reaching 94,692 TEUs from 17 scheduled vessel calls.

This represents a 5.82% drop from the previous week and an 18.98% decrease year-on-year.

However, volumes are expected to rebound in Week 25, i.e, 15-21 June, with 121,916 TEUs expected from 22 scheduled vessels. This reflects a 28.75% week-on-week increase and a significant 41.27% rise year-on-year (YoY).

Rising tariffs and ongoing uncertainty in US-China relations have significantly slowed the movement of goods, impacting jobs, businesses, and local economies in tangible ways.

Data from the Chinese government revealed that exports to the US plummeted by 35% YoY in May — the sharpest decline since the early 2020 trade freeze during Covid lockdowns. This followed a 21% drop in April.

In Canada’s Montreal, bunker operations may face disruptions on 12 June due to high wind gusts. Barge services operate only during daylight hours, and delays at anchorage are possible.

Latin America and the Caribbean

The market is still very quiet in Panama. All fuel grades in Balboa and Cristobal can be supplied within 5-7 days.

In Balboa, from 12-16 June, high winds and thunderstorms may disrupt bunkering. Deliveries operate on a first-come first serve basis, with priority given to vessels with confirmed Panama Canal transit slots.

Ongoing drought conditions are still affecting transit through the Panama Canal, causing delays in vessel movements, especially for ships with deeper drafts.

In the Bahamas’ Freeport and St. Eustatius, no weather disruptions are expected. Deliveries are being made at the anchorage, with cruise ships receiving priority. No barge congestion is reported.

In Trinidad Offshore, from 12-16 June, high wind gusts and high seas could impact bunker deliveries. No barge readiness congestion has been reported at the moment.

Argentina has authorised the voluntary use of biofuels or biofuel blends for river and sea vessels, as long as their engines are compatible.

To support this, the government has introduced a new “Bunker Operator” category in its official registry. Companies supplying marine biofuels must now register and follow certain rules, helping ensure proper handling, safety, and fuel quality.

The anticipated increase in Argentina’s maize production and export volumes is also expected to drive higher vessel traffic at key ports, which could in turn boost bunker fuel demand and impact delivery schedules, another source informed.

VLSFO availability in Zona Comun has significantly increased, with lead times now at 5-6 days, down from the typical 10-12 days.

High wind gusts are expected from 12-16 June, and if wind speeds exceed 20 knots, bunker deliveries will be suspended, the port authorities said.

Bunker fuel supply continues to be stable across key Brazilian ports, including Santos, Rio de Janeiro, and Rio Grande, with VLSFO and LSMGO available for prompt delivery. HSFO is not supplied at these ports. Recommended lead times are around 5–7 days.

Operations at the Port of Santos remain affected by congestion, though conditions are expected to ease in the next few days.

Meanwhile, bunker availability in Colombia’s Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Santa Marta ports also remains good, with recommended lead times of 2–3 days, according to a source.

By Gautamee Hazarika

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 13 June 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: 13 June 2025

Beijing-based commodity market information provider JLC Network Technology Co. recently shared its JLC China Bunker monthly report for May 2025 with Manifold Times through an exclusive arrangement:

Bunker Fuel Demand

China’s daily bonded bunker fuel sales decrease in May

China’s daily bonded bunker fuel sales decreased last month, due to a cut in domestic low-sulfur fuel oil (LSFO) production.

The country sold about 1.79 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in May, with daily sales at 57,761 mt, slipping by 1.69% from a month earlier, JLC’s data shows.

Bonded bunker fuel sales by Chimbusco, Sinopec (Zhoushan), SinoBunker and China Changjiang Bunker (Sinopec) respectively settled at 480,000 mt, 580,000 mt, 50,000 mt and 28,000 mt in the month, while suppliers with regional bunkering licenses sold 652,600 mt.

Domestic refiners lowered their LSFO output amid more unit maintenance, leading to a decline in China’s daily bonded bunker fuel sales. However, the sales decline was capped to some degree by increasing demand for cargo transportation.

China’s LSFO output continues to fall in May

China’s LSFO output continued to fall in May, due to more refinery turnarounds and bad production margins.

Chinese refiners produced 955,000 mt of LSFO in the month, with the daily output at 30,806 mt, down by 11.39% month on month and 28.21% year on year, JLC’s data shows.

Independent refiners brought more units under maintenance, coupled with still bad production margins, weighing down China’s LSFO output.

Specifically, Sinopec’s LSFO production dropped moderately , as Shanghai Petrochemical and Zhenhai Refining and Chemical slashed their output. However, Qingdao Petrochemical boosted its output slightly, and Shengli Oilfield maintained high production. Tianjin Petrochemical and Hunan Petrochemical were still under maintenance, while Jiujiang Petrochemical came back online in mid-May and produced some LSFO.

PetroChina saw relatively stable production in May, as some refineries’ output cuts counteracted some others’ boosts. Jinxi Petrochemical has wrapped up maintenance and is expected to resume LSFO production in June.

CNOOC’s LSFO output fell in May, as Zhoushan Petrochemical, Zhongjie Petrochemical and Taizhou Petrochemical cut their production to various degrees.

ZPC and Sinochem did not produce any LSFO in May, but the latter exported 25,000 mt of MGO.

Domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel demand shrinks in May

Domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel demand shrank in May, as most shipowners just purchased on rigid demand when bearish sentiment dominated the market.

Domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel demand settled at 360,000 mt in the month, descending by 20,000 mt or 5.26% month on month, JLC’s data indicates.

In the meantime, domestic-trade light bunker fuel demand came in at 150,000 mt, without change month on month, the data shows. Diesel demand from the shipping industry weakened amid the fishing moratorium, while that from the agricultural industry strengthened amid the summer harvest.

Bunker Fuel Supply

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports retreat in April

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports retreated in April, as Chinese bonded bunker suppliers reduced their purchases of high-sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) after relatively large cargo arrivals in March.

Chinese bunker suppliers imported 525,500 mt of bonded bunker fuel in April, a cut of 21.07% month on month, JLC’s calculation shows, with reference to the GACC data.

Meanwhile, Chinese bonded bunker suppliers continued to import LSFO to meet demand when domestic production slipped further amid more refinery maintenance and bad production margins, and they kept the imports largely stable.

Bonded marine gas oil (MGO) imports remained normal in April.

Malaysia exported 139,300 mt of bonded bunker fuel to China in April, becoming the largest supplier to China.

Cargoes from Malaysia accounted for 26.52% of China’s total imports in the month. Brazil ranked second with 108,600 mt, taking 20.66%, while the UAE came in third with 100,800 mt, accounting for 19.18%. Russia climbed to the fourth place with 99,800 mt, accounting for 19.00%, while South Korea slid to the fifth place with 77,000 mt, occupying 14.64%.

On a year-on-year comparison, however, China’s bonded bunker fuel imports surged by 54.1 1% in April, which could be ascribed to growing bunkering demand.

Domestic-trade bunker fuel supply tightens in May

Domestic-trade bunker fuel supply tightened in May, as the availability of low-sulfur residual oil and shale oil decreased, also because of the suspension of the blending business in north and east China.

Blenders supplied about 370,000 mt of domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel in the month, down by 10,000 mt or 2.63% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Blenders showed lower production interest amid insufficient blendstock supply . Refineries reduced their low-sulfur residual oil supply amid more maintenance, and their shale oil supply also tightened. In addition, the blending business in north and east China was still at a halt amid the negative impact of tax inspections.

At the same time, domestic-trade light bunker fuel supply settled at 160,000 mt, down by 10,000 mt or 5.88% month on month, the data shows. Refineries cut their diesel supply when more units came under maintenance.

Bunker Prices, Profits

Editor
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JLC Network Technology Co., Ltd is recognised as the leading information provider in China. We specialise in providing the transparent, high-value, authoritative market intelligence and professional analysis in commodity market. Our expertise covers oil, gas, coal, chemical, plastic, rubber, fertilizer and metal industry, etc.

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report is published by JLC Network Technology Co., Ltd every month on China bunker market, demand, supply, margin, freight index, forecast and so on. The report provides full-scale & concise insight into China bunker oil market.

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Related: [Updated 15 May] JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (April 2025)
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Note: China-based commodity market information provider JLC Technology has been providing Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times China bunker volume data since 2020. Data from earlier periods are available here.

Photo credit: JLC Network Technology
Published: 12 June, 2025