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ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Bunker supply tight in Houston, Panama suppliers grapple with tight HSFO; poor harvest dents bunker demand in Argentina.

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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:

11 May 2023

  • Bunker supply tight in Houston
  • Panama suppliers grapple with tight HSFO
  • Poor harvest dents bunker demand in Argentina

 

North America

All fuel grades are in tight supply for prompt delivery dates in Houston. Demand has been good for VLSFO and LSMGO in the past week and several suppliers in Houston have held back offers for prompt dates due to tight delivery schedules, sources say.

Availability of prompt VLSFO and LSMGO stems is better in Bolivar Roads. Suppliers are able to deliver stems with a lead time of four days.

LSMGO availability is normal in Lake Charles. A supplier can supply on prompt dates.

Bad weather has triggered bunker suspensions in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) in recent days. Ongoing bad weather conditions have forced some suppliers to hold back deliveries. Operations are expected to resume with calmer weather later on Sunday and deliveries might be allowed to resume on a case-by-case basis.

HSFO availability is tight for prompt dates as well as for dates further out in the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles on the US West Coast. Only one supplier is able to offer the grade in the ports, and that is on a non-prompt basis.

VLSFO and LSMGO grades are also tight for prompt dates in the West Coast ports after demand picked up in the past week. However, some suppliers can deliver stems with a lead time of 7-8 days.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in New York. Suppliers’ earliest delivery dates are mostly subject to enquiry in the East Coast port.

 

Caribbean and Latin America

HSFO is extremely tight in Panama. A supplier in Panama is out of HSFO to sell in Cristobal. One supplier requires two weeks to deliver stems in Balboa. Some suppliers have held back offers in wait for confirmation of a resupply date.

However, securing VLSFO and LSMGO for prompt dates is possible in Panama. Most suppliers are able to offer LSMGO and VLSFO stems within 4-5 days of lead time.

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

VLSFO delivery is tight for prompt dates in Jamaica’s Kingston. One supplier can accommodate stems after 22 May.

VLSFO and LSMGO supply is good for very prompt dates in Brazilian ports of Santos and Rio Grande. Most suppliers can deliver stems within 4-6 days of lead time.

For Rio de Janeiro, demand has been low in the past week. Availability is good for prompt dates in the port.

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal for prompt dates at Argentina’s Zona Comun anchorage. Most suppliers are able to deliver stems within five days of lead time. However, bunker operations are likely to be disrupted at the anchorage on Friday evening due to strong wind gusts.

Argentina has been suffering from a drought that has curbed crop production, which has slowed down exports, vessel traffic and bunker demand in the region. Some suppliers in Zona Comun are struggling with ample bunker fuel stocks, which has led to downward pressure on prices as they have been keen to sell their products.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 12 May, 2023

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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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