Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Slow demand in several Americas ports; supply very tight in Zona Comun; demand picks up in GOLA.

Published

1 year ago

September 15, 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:

14 September 2023

Slow demand in several Americas ports
Supply very tight in Zona Comun
Demand picks up in GOLA

North America

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO grades in Houston has been good so far this week. Several suppliers are able to deliver the grades with 2-3 days of lead time, down from last week’s 4-5 days. However, demand in Houston has been relatively slower so far this week compared to the earlier week. Meanwhile, HSFO availability is tight in Houston, where there is limited supply available with most suppliers.

Securing VLSFO and LSMGO stems for prompt delivery dates remains difficult in Bolivar Roads. Bunker deliveries there are subject to weather conditions and availability of anchorage space, a source says. One supplier is able to offer stems there with lead times of 12-14 days.

At the New Orleans Outer Anchorage (NOLA), demand for VLSFO and LSMGO has been more for delivery dates further out. Most suppliers are able to offer stems for these dates.

Calmer weather conditions have allowed bunkering to run smoothly in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA). Demand for all fuel grades has also picked up in GOLA this week. Suppliers in the GOLA can accommodate LSMGO and VLSFO stems within 2-3 days of lead time.

With the rise in demand, bunker supplier Bunker One has announced that it will start HSFO supply in GOLA, off Sabine and off Corpus Christi from 18 September. HSFO supply has been tight with most suppliers in the lightering area.

Demand has dropped in the West Coast ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. VLSFO and LSMGO availability has held better in both ports. HSFO supply is tight in the West Coast ports, as one supplier awaits resupply cargo. Delivery dates for the grade can go up to the end of September.

Delivery prospects in Port Angeles, further north on the US West Coast, remain subject to enquiry, a source says.

The availability of all fuel grades for prompt dates is normal in the East Coast port of New York. Demand is said to be slow in the port.

Demand for fuel oil has dropped significantly by 21% from August to 166,000 b/d this month – the lowest level since May 2020.

Hurricane Lee, which has downgraded to Category 2 from Category 3 is expected to hit the Eastern Coast of Canada over the weekend. It also poses a threat of coastal flooding in some of the regional ports. However, the storm is unlikely to impact bunkering on the Canadian East Coast as ports like Quebec and Montreal are well sheltered and not in the storm's direct path.

Caribbean and Latin America

Prompt availability of all fuel grades is normal in Panama’s Balboa and Cristobal. Several suppliers can deliver VLSFO and LSMGO stems in the ports with a lead time of 3-4 days in Balboa. Demand has been very low in both Balboa and Cristobal in recent weeks.

Prompt availability of both VLSFO and LSMGO remains tight off Trinidad.

Bunkering was running normally in Argentina's Zona Comun anchorage on Thursday morning. However, strong wind gusts of up to 37 knots are forecast to hit the region from Thursday evening onwards, which could cause prolonged delays and disruptions through the rest of the week, a source says.

Due to persistent weather disruptions and a refinery outage in the region, the availability of fuel grades in Zona Comun has become extremely limited. One supplier is almost running out of VLSFO and LSMGO stocks, while several other suppliers are only able to offer stems for delivery dates after the first week of October.

Prompt availability of VLSFO and LSMGO remains tight in Brazilian ports. One supplier is able to supply stems for prompt dates in Salvador, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande on a subject to enquiry basis.

Suppliers in Santos have been facing delays due to weather-related disruptions caused by heavy rainfall in the region.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 15 September, 2023

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Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (16 Jan 2025)

Prompt availability good in New York; rough weather in Houston causes delays; high wind gusts hit bunkering in Zona Comun.

Published

2 days ago

January 17, 2025

Admin

Prompt availability good in New York
Rough weather in Houston causes delays
High wind gusts hit bunkering in Zona Comun

North America

Bunker fuel availability in Houston remains tight across all grades. High winds over the last few days have created some backlogs by delaying bunker deliveries in the port. The situation is expected to remain the like this until 21 January.

An "Arctic Front will impact Houston area starting Saturday morning with high winds / cold temps [temperatures] and possible freeze," a source says. The pumping rates on barges are likely to be much lower than normal due to cold temperatures, the source adds.

There are enough supply volumes to go around in the port. That is not really the issue, a source says, the issue is more to get into suppliers' delivery schedules and for stems to be delivered without weather delays.

Bunker operations in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) could be disrupted by high wind gusts on and off until 20 January, with deliveries happening on a case-by-case basis. Operations are expected to resume fully between 16-18 January and then be suspended on 19 January, a source says.

On the East Coast, availability for VLSFO and LSMGO is good in New York, but bunker operations may face disruptions this week due to high wind gusts, causing potential delays in deliveries, a source said. Tugs are kept on standby for urgent requirements.

Last week, shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk had issued an advisory to its customers stating that the conditional agreement on US wages is set to expire on 15 January, possibly leading to a coast-wide strike on 16 January, if no agreement was reached by that date.

To clarify, bunker suppliers across US East Coast and Gulf Coast ports have not reported any disruptions from a workers' strike, and deliveries are underway, according to multiple sources.

Prompt bunker availability has improved in Los Angeles and Long Beach in January, with suppliers advising lead times of less than seven days for all fuel grades.

Caribbean and Latin America

Suppliers have seen strong demand in the Panamanian ports of Balboa and Cristobal, amid tight availability across most fuel grades. Suppliers require lead times of more than seven days to secure stems.

Suppliers in the Colombian ports of Santa Marta, Barranquilla and Cartagena have seen good demand, and tighter availability. January is the month with the highest demand, a source says.

Bunker operations at Argentina’s Zona Común anchorage may face some disruptions due to bad weather conditions and strong wind gusts between 17-19 January. Prompt VLSFO availability is tight at the anchorage, with lead times of at least seven days advised, a source said.

In Bahía Blanca, supply capacity has been reduced because of low barge availability since December. Bahía Blanca is a major wheat export hub.

Meanwhile, Brazilian ports reported strong demand in January, with ample availability across most fuel grades.

By Aparupa Mazumder

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 17 January, 2025

Bunker Fuel

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (16 January 2025)

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

Published

2 days ago

January 17, 2025

Admin

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (16 January 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

Rotterdam – Waalhaven – Maasvlakte range
Houston – Houston Harbor
Singapore – Anchorage, under SBA Scheme
Fujairah – Offshore Anchorage Area

Submitted weekly at Close of Business UK time, on Tuesday & Thursdays

Panellists:
Island Oil Limited, Cockett Marine Oil Pte, Monjasa A/S, KPI OceanConnect

Photo credit and source: Baltic Exchange
Published: 17 January, 2025

Bunker Fuel

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 5.2% on year in December 2024

4.79 million mt of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in December, a drop from 5.05 million mt recorded during the similar month in 2023.

Published

3 days ago

January 16, 2025

Admin

Sales of marine fuel at Singapore port decreased by 5.2% on year in December 2024, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) data.

In total, 4.79 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,790,030 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in December, a drop from 5.05 million mt (5,050,640 mt) recorded during the similar month in 2023.

Deliveries of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in December (against on year) recorded respectively 1.88 million mt (+3.9% from 1.81 million mt), 2.43 million mt (-14.4% from 2.84 million mt), zero (+100% from zero), 3,400 mt (-86.3% from 24,800 mt) and zero (from zero).

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Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in December (against on year) recorded respectively 12,000 (+100% from zero), 94,100 mt (+62.2% from 58,000 mt), zero (from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from zero).

LNG and methanol sales were posted respectively at 48,300 mt (+419.4% from 9,300) and zero (from zero).

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