Business

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Prompt supply tight in Houston; suppliers pricing VLSFO competitively in Zona Comun; bad weather impacts GOLA bunkering.

Published

2 years ago

April 28, 2023

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:

27 April 2023

Prompt supply tight in Houston
Suppliers pricing VLSFO competitively in Zona Comun
Bad weather impacts GOLA bunkering

North America

Securing VLSFO and LSMGO stems for very prompt delivery dates (0-2 days) in the Houston area and off the US Gulf Coast is difficult. Some suppliers in Houston have held back offers for very prompt dates due to tight delivery schedules, while some are expecting VLSFO replenishments. A lead time of five days is generally recommended to ensure coverage from all suppliers.

In Bolivar Roads, one supplier can supply VLSFO and LSMGO stems with lead times of six days.

Bad weather has triggered intermittent bunker suspensions in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) in recent days. Ongoing bad weather has forced some suppliers to hold back deliveries.

As a result, it can be hard to fix VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries for prompt dates in GOLA. One supplier is hesitant to supply prompt stems as it works to clear previous weather backlogs, a source says. The supplier is unable to guarantee prompt dates for deliveries.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is said to be normal at the New Orleans Outer Anchorage (NOLA).

Bunker fuel availability is normal in the East Coast port of New York.

Caribbean and Latin America

Bunker fuel availability is said to be normal in Panama’s Balboa and Cristobal. One supplier can supply VLSFO and LSMGO stems for very prompt dates (0-2 days) in Balboa, while HSFO supply requires lead times of at least 3-4 days.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal off Trinidad. One supplier can supply stems on prompt dates.

One supplier in Paramaribo is running low on VLSFO stocks, a source says. Another supplier requires at least 4-5 days of lead times.

Prompt availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal in Colombia’s Santa Marta. In Buenaventura, one supplier can supply LSMGO stems through trucks but requires at least seven days of lead time.

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal at Argentina’s Zona Comun anchorage. The earliest delivery date with a supplier is about five days, while another supplier requires lead times of six days. Suppliers in Zona Comun have been pricing VLSFO at rare discounts or at parity with Houston’s VLSFO since February.

Argentina is a major grain exporter, but a recent drought in the country has curbed crop production, which has had a knock-on impact on exports and bunker demand. Some Argentinian suppliers are struggling with ample bunker stocks. This has added to the downward pressure on prices as they have been keen to sell their products.

VLSFO availability is good in Brazil’s Santos port. One supplier is able to supply stems for prompt dates.

By Nithin Chandran

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 28 April, 2023

LNG Bunkering

China: Ningbo Zhoushan Port completes first LNG bunkering operation for 2025

Bunkering vessel “Hai Yang Shi You 302” supplied more than 10,000 cubic metres of LNG bunker fuel to containership “MSC Adya” at the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port port on 5 January.

Published

3 days ago

January 10, 2025

Admin

China: Ningbo Zhoushan Port completes first LNG bunkering operation for 2025

Zhejiang Pilot Free Trade Zone Zhoushan Area on Wednesday (8 January) said Ningbo-Zhoushan Port successfully completed its first LNG bunkering operation for the year.

Bunkering vessel Hai Yang Shi You 302 supplied more than 10,000 cubic metres (m3) of LNG bunker fuel to containership MSC Adya at the port on 5 January.

Zhejiang Seaport International Trading, the bunker supplier for the operation, successfully obtained the Zhoushan Anchorage LNG bunkering licence in June 2024, extending refuelling services from dock to sea.

The company’s services cover Meishan, Chuanshan, Daxie and other port areas.

As China's first river-sea LNG transport and bunkering ship, Hai Yang Shi You is currently placed permanently at Ningbo Zhoushan Port, providing a variety of bunkering methods such as ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore.

Zhejiang Seaport International Trading will continue to expand the scope of bonded LNG bunkering operations and new alternative fuels such as green methanol, ammonia and biofuels in the Zhoushan Area.

Photo credit: Zhejiang Pilot Free Trade Zone Zhoushan Area
Published: 10 January, 2025

Business

Shandong Port Group bans US-sanctioned tankers from entering its ports

Group has prohibited ports to dock, unload or provide ship services to vessels on the Office of Foreign Control list managed by the US Department, according to a Reuters news report.

Published

3 days ago

January 10, 2025

Admin

Shandong Port Group bans US-sanctioned tankers from entering its ports

China’s Shandong Port Group has reportedly blocked tankers affected by US sanctions from entering its ports, according to an exclusive news report by Reuters on Wednesday (8 January).

Citing a notice from the port, which was issued on 6 January and shared to Reuters by traders, the Group has prohibited ports to dock, unload or provide ship services to vessels on the Office of Foreign Control list managed by the US Department.

In another notice released on 7 January, the ban came after sanctioned tanker Eliza II unloaded at Yantai Port in early January.

Shandong Port operates major ports on the east coast of China including Qingdao, Rizhao and Yantai, which are major terminals for importing sanctioned oil.

The traders said the ban could slow imports into China, the world’s largest oil importing nation, and increase shipping costs.

Photo credit: Shandong Port Group
Published: 10 January, 2025

Business

US DoD designates COSCO Shipping and CNOOC as ‘Chinese military companies’

COSCO Shipping has responded that the company and its subsidiaries ‘have consistently adhered to local laws and regulations, maintaining strict compliance in all international operations’.

Published

3 days ago

January 10, 2025

Admin

China: Cosco Shipping and bp to explore collaboration into methanol bunker fuel

The US Department of Defense (DoD) on Tuesday (7 January) has added China’s state-owned shipping company COSCO Shipping and two of its subsidiaries to its list of companies for allegedly having links to the Chinese military.

The subsidiaries are COSCO SHIPPING (North America) and COSCO SHIPPING Finance.

DoD released the update to the names of "Chinese military companies" operating directly or indirectly in the United States in accordance with the statutory requirement of Section 1260H of the National Defense Authorisation Act for Fiscal Year 2021. The Department said it will update the list with additional entities as appropriate.

Updating the Section 1260H list of "Chinese military companies" is an important continuing effort in highlighting and countering the People’s Republic of China's (PRC) Military-Civil Fusion strategy, DOD added.

The list also included other Chinese shipping-related companies such as shipbuilders China Shipbuilding Trading and China State Shipbuilding Corporation, oil company China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), CNOOC China and CNOOC International Trading.

Shipping container manufacturer China International Marine Containers (CIMC) was also included on the list of companies.

In a response to the move, COSCO Shipping said it has noted the recent inclusion of the company and its subsidiaries to the sanctions list.

“COSCO Shipping and its subsidiaries have consistently adhered to local laws and regulations, maintaining strict compliance in all international operations,” it said on its website.

“We remain committed to facilitating global trade and providing high-quality commercial shipping and logistics services to clients worldwide, including agricultural producers, manufacturers, energy firms, retailers, and exporters in the United States.”

“We emphasise that none of the aforementioned companies are ‘Chinese military companies’. We will engage with U.S. authorities to clarify this matter. This designation does not impose sanctions or export controls, and our global operations will continue uninterrupted.”

Photo credit: COSCO Shipping
Published: 10 January, 2025