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

2 years 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: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (14 May 2025)

Prompt supplies tight in the ARA; Gibraltar Strait congestion persists; ULSFO now available by truck in Piraeus.

Published

24 hours ago

May 15, 2025

Admin

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 supplies tight in the ARA
Gibraltar Strait congestion persists
ULSFO now available by truck in Piraeus

Northwest Europe

Prompt bunker availability of all conventional fuels has tightened in the ARA hub. Lead times of 5-6 days are advised for HSFO, while for VLSFO and LSMGO they are at 7-8 days. Lead times for HSFO and VLSFO remain largely consistent with last week, while that for LSMGO has increased from last week’s 3-5 days.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have averaged 6% higher so far in May than across April, according to Insights Global data. At 7.40 million bbls, the region’s fuel oil stocks have increased on a monthly average basis for the first time this year.

The ARA has imported 164,000 b/d of fuel oil in May, down compared to April’s 198,000 b/d, according to data from cargo tracker Vortexa.

The UAE has emerged as the ARA’s topmost import source, making up 39% of the total share. Other import sources include Turkey (16%) and Poland (15%).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories – which include diesel and heating oil – have averaged 3% lower than in April. The ARA hub has imported a total of 347,000 b/d this month, a slight decrease from 358,000 b/d in April, according to Vortexa data.

In the Swedish port of Gothenburg and off Skaw, bunker supply remains limited, a trader told ENGINE. Lead times of 10 days are advised for both locations across fuel grades.

Mediterranean

In Gibraltar Strait ports, prompt bunker availability remains tight with lead times of 8-9 days for all fuel grades, a trader said.

The ports continue to face some congestion, according to port agent MH Bland.

On Wednesday, Gibraltar had seven vessels awaiting bunkers due to limited bunker barge availability, the port agent said.

Algeciras also has some bunker delays. Its port authority has advised bunker suppliers to only use the Delta anchorage for bunker calls, in an effort to reduce the ongoing congestion there. Ships calling at Algeciras for other services should use the Alpha, Bravo or Charlie anchorages.

Across the Strait in Ceuta, three vessels were waiting to bunker at berths and seven vessels were scheduled to arrive for bunkers on Wednesday, according to shipping agent Jose Salama & Co.

The Portuguese port of Lisbon has good bunker supply and lead times of 3-5 days are recommended, according to a trader.

Lead times of 7-8 days are advised for all grades off Malta.

In Piraeus, prompt supply of conventional fuels remains on the tighter side, with HSFO availability subject to enquiry.

A supplier has started offering ULSFO by truck in Piraeus, as an alternative to LSMGO for vessels sailing in the new 0.10% sulphur-capped Emission Control Area (ECA) in the Mediterranean.

Suppliers in the Turkish port of Istanbul have prompt LSMGO supply, while lead times of 7-8 days are recommended for ULSFO. HSFO and VLSFO supplies remain very tight.

Africa

Availability of all grades is good in Lome, with lead times of 5-7 days recommended.

VLSFO is readily available in Luanda with 3-4 days of notice recommended, while LSMGO supply is still very tight, a trader said.

There is decent prompt availability of all grades off Walvis Bay. Lead times of 3-6 days advised.

The South African port of Durban has good bunker supply, with 2-4 days of lead time advised and weak demand, a trader said. LSMGO supply remains dry.

Port Louis in Mauritius has normal bunker availability. Lead times of 3-5 days are advised for all grades.

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 15 May, 2025

Bunker Fuel

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 4% on year in April 2025

4.40 million mt of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in April, up from 4.24 million mt recorded during the similar month in 2024.

Published

2 days ago

May 14, 2025

Admin

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 4% on year in April 2025

Sales of marine fuel at Singapore port increased by 4% on year in April 2025, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) data.

In total, 4.40 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,404,440 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in April, up from 4.24 million mt (4,235,160 mt) recorded during the similar month in 2024.

Deliveries of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in April (against on year) recorded respectively 1.70 million mt (+6.3% from 1.60 million mt), 2.24 million mt (-0.4% from 2.25 million mt), zero (from zero), zero (-100% from 9,700 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 April (against on year) recorded respectively 33,300 mt (+100% from zero), 75,600 mt (+26.8% from 59,600 mt), 700 mt (+100% from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from zero). A new addition of biofuel blend, introduced in February this year, B100, recorded 300 mt in April.

LNG and methanol sales were posted respectively at 42,000 mt (+18% from 35,600) and zero (from zero). There were no recorded sales of ammonia for the month and so far in 2025.

A complete series of articles on Singapore bunker volumes by Manifold Times in 2024 can be found below:

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 14 May, 2025

Bunker Fuel

Panama bunker fuel sales up by 21.7% on year in April 2025

Total bunker sales at Panama was 459,126 metric tonnes in April 2025, compared to sales of 377,180 mt during the similar period in 2024, according to latest PMA data.

Published

2 days ago

May 14, 2025

Admin

Bunker fuel sales at Panama increased by about 21.7% in April 2025, according to the latest data from La Autoridad Maritima de Panama, also known as the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA).

Total bunker sales at Panama was 459,126 metric tonnes (mt) in April 2025, compared to sales of 377,180 mt during the similar period in 2024.

In April 2025, the Pacific side of Panama posted bunker sales of 388,111 mt; 224,027 mt of VLSFO, 121,890 mt of RMG 380, 2,485 of marine gas oil (MGO), and 39,709 mt of low sulphur marine gas oil (LSMGO) were delivered.

The similar region saw total marine sales of 302,766 mt a year before in April; with VLSFO sales at 170,075 mt, RMG 380 sales at 108,242 mt, MGO sales at 4,329 mt, and 20,120 mt of LSMGO being sold.

Panama’s Atlantic side, meanwhile, recorded total bunker fuel sales of 71,015 during April 2025; the figure comprised 49,544 mt of VLSFO, 11,442 mt of RMG 380, 1,456 mt of MGO, and 8,573 mt of LSMGO.

It saw total sales of 74,414 mt in April a year before; with VLSFO sales of 55,657 mt, RMG 380 sales of 5,851 mt, 3,338 mt of MGO, and LSMGO sales of 9,568 mt.

Photo credit: George Keel
Published: 14 May, 2025