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 supply is tight in the ARA
• HSFO is tight in Las Palmas
• Prompt VLSFO is tight in Richards Bay

Northwest Europe

Prompt availability across all three grades is currently very tight in Rotterdam and in the wider ARA hub, a trader told ENGINE.

While LSMGO tightness has continued into its second week, HSFO and VLSFO began experiencing tightness last week. Product loading delays are leading to this tightness in prompt availability. Lead times for all three grades have stretched to 5–7 days now as several barges are stuck in long queues awaiting product loading, two sources confirmed. The region has been experiencing good demand, a trader confirmed.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks averaged 5% lower in September than across August, according to Insights Global data.

The region imported 229,000 b/d of fuel oil in September, a moderate increase from 223,000 b/d imported in August, according to data from cargo tracker Vortexa. The ARA imported low-sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) and HSFO in a 51/49 ratio in September, almost similar to August when the ratio was also tilted towards LSFO at 53/47.

The ARA hub’s independent gasoil inventories — which include diesel and heating oil — increased by 12% in September. The region imported 291,000 b/d of gasoil in September, down from 355,000 b/d of gasoil imported in August, according to Vortexa data.

Saudi Arabia became the region's top import source of gasoil and diesel in September, accounting for 17% of the total imports. Cargoes also arrived from the US (16%), Oman (12%), Qatar (9%) and Turkey (7%).

Germany’s Hamburg port is experiencing good bunker availability, a trader said. Lead times remain unchanged with traders advising 3–5 days for optimal coverage. 

Mediterranean

In Gibraltar, bunker fuel availability is good, with suppliers able to offer prompt delivery dates for all three grades, a trader told ENGINE. Lead times have remained unchanged in the past two weeks with traders advising 3-5 days for all grades.

Rough weather may complicate bunker deliveries in Gibraltar on Wednesday when strong wind gusts of up to 30 knots are forecast in the port area. Calm weather is forecast from Thursday and through the weekend, making it conducive to bunkering.

Prompt HSFO availability is still tight in the Canary Islands’ port of Las Palmas, a trader told ENGINE. Lead times of 5–7 days are recommended for optimal coverage. Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is good in the port and lead times of 3–5 days are recommended for both grades. Bunkering is likely to proceed smoothly in Las Palmas for the rest of the week amid calm weather conditions.

Bunker demand continues to be stable in other Mediterranean ports like Piraeus, Malta Offshore and Istanbul, a trader said.

In the Greek port of Piraeus, VLFSO and LSMGO availability is good, a trader said. Some suppliers are able to offer the grades within two days, the trader added. Prompt HSFO supply is subject to enquiry in Piraeus. Lead times of 3–5 days are generally recommended for all three grades. Calm weather is forecast in Piraeus this week, a source said, making it conducive to bunkering.

Off Malta, bunker availability is good for prompt delivery dates, a trader said. Recommended lead times for all grades are 3–4 days, a trader said. Rough weather is forecast off Malta from Thursday till Saturday, which may impact bunkering in the area, a source said.

Bunker fuel availability is good in the Turkish port of Istanbul. A trader advises lead times of 3–4 days for all grades. Bunkering may be hampered between Wednesday and Saturday in Istanbul due to bad weather, according to a source.

Africa

Availability of VLSFO is tight for prompt delivery dates in the South African ports of Richards Bay and Durban, with a trader recommending lead times of 7–10 days for optimal coverage. 

LSMGO availability is also very tight for prompt delivery in Durban port, a trader told ENGINE. Lead times of up to 14 days are recommended.

Durban may experience bunker disruptions on Wednesday and Friday amid rough weather. Strong wind gusts of up to 27 knots are forecast on Wednesday, while wind gusts in the 20–25 knots range are forecast for Friday.

In Mauritius’ Port Louis, bunker availability is still very tight for all three grades, a trader told ENGINE. Most suppliers are recommending lead times of over 10 days for all three grades.

By Manjula Nair

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 10 October, 2024

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: 9 October, 2024

The following article regarding regional bunker fuel availability outlook for the East of Suez region has been provided by online marine fuels procurement platform ENGINE for publication on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

• VLSFO and HSFO supply is tight in Singapore
• VLSFO and HSFO availability improves in Zhoushan
• Availability good across all grades in several Sri Lankan ports

Singapore and Malaysia

VLSFO availability in Singapore remains tight due to “healthy demand,” with some suppliers facing low stock levels and terminal loading delays. Lead times of 10-15 days are recommended for VLSFO, nearly the same as last week.

HSFO supply is also under pressure, with lead times of more than two weeks recommended, although some suppliers can accommodate stems within 11 days, but these are typically priced higher, according to a source.

In contrast, LSMGO is more readily available, with lead times ranging from 2-6 days.

Data from Enterprise Singapore shows that residual fuel oil stocks in Singapore averaged 8% lower in September than in August, dropping below 18 million bbls despite a 28% rise in net fuel oil imports. Fuel oil imports decreased by 202,000 bbls, a smaller decline compared to the 898,000 bbls drop in exports. Middle distillate stocks at the port also fell, averaging 8% lower during the month.

In Malaysia's Port Klang, VLSFO and LSMGO supplies are plentiful, and some suppliers can offer prompt deliveries for smaller quantities. However, HSFO availability continues to be limited.

East Asia

In Zhoushan, improved VLSFO and HSFO availability, combined with low bunker demand, has reduced recommended lead times from 7-10 days last week, to 3-5 days now. LSMGO supply is normal in the port, with unchanged lead times of 3-5 days.

In Hong Kong, a lead time of about seven days is recommended for all fuel grades, which remains nearly the same as last week.

All Taiwanese ports have resumed full operations after disruptions from Typhoon Krathon last week. VLSFO and LSMGO supplies are stable in Hualien, Taichung and Keelung, with prompt lead times of 2-3 days, down from 4-5 days last week. However, congestion in Kaohsiung has stretched lead times to 4-5 days for both grades.

A source stated that tight barge availability has contributed to the tightening of all fuel grades in South Korean ports. In southern ports, VLSFO and LSMGO supplies have become tight, with recommended lead times increasing from 5-9 days last week to around 11 days now. However, some suppliers can still offer grades for prompt delivery dates, according to a trader. HSFO supply is also tight, with recommended lead times extending beyond two weeks.

In western South Korean ports, VLSFO and LSMGO lead times are advised at around 10-14 days, nearly unchanged from last week. Meanwhile, HSFO availability has improved, with lead times dropping from up to 15 days to around nine days now.

High waves are also forecasted to intermittently affect bunker operations at the ports of Ulsan, Onsan, Busan, and Yeosu throughout this week.

In Japan, LSMGO supply remains strong at major ports such as Tokyo, Chiba, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Osaka, Kobe, Sakai, Nagoya, Yokkaichi, Mizushima, and Oita. VLSFO is widely available, though prompt supply is tight in Oita.

HSFO supply is a bit tight for prompt delivery dates in Oita. In the Tokyo Bay area ports of Tokyo, Chiba, Kawasaki, and Yokohama, HSFO supply has tightened due to technical issues at refineries. One refinery has halted HSFO production until 15 October, while two others are facing cargo loading delays, according to a source.

Oceania

A bunker barge serving Fremantle and Kwinana ports is in dry dock until mid-November, making VLSFO unavailable by barge during this period. However, LSMGO can still be supplied at berth. The Western Australian port of Kembla remains unaffected, as bunker deliveries are exclusively by truck and ex-pipe. In New South Wales, Sydney has sufficient LSMGO stocks, but HSFO may require longer lead times.

In Victoria, Melbourne and Geelong have ample supplies of VLSFO and LSMGO, but prompt HSFO deliveries may be challenging. In Queensland, Brisbane and Gladstone ports have sufficient VLSFO and LSMGO with lead times of 7-8 days, although HSFO availability is limited in Brisbane.

In New Zealand, Tauranga and Auckland have good VLSFO supplies, with Auckland also having strong LSMGO availability. However, intermittent rough weather is forecasted in Tauranga over the next few days, which may affect bunker operations.

South Asia

In the Indian ports of Mumbai, Kandla, Tuticorin, Cochin, and Chennai, VLSFO and LSMGO supplies are limited. VLSFO and LSMGO grades are available in Visakhapatnam, but a supplier in Paradip and Haldia is almost out of stock for both grades.

Sri Lanka's ports of Colombo and Hambantota have sufficient supplies of all grades, with prompt lead times of about three days.

Middle East

All grades remain tight in Fujairah, with most suppliers recommending lead times of 7-10 days, consistent with last week. However, some suppliers can still provide grades for prompt deliveries, according to a source. A similar situation exists in Khor Fakkan, where lead times of 7-10 days are advised for all grades.

In Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah port, VLSFO and LSMGO supplies are abundant. VLSFO supply is limited in nearby Djibouti, while LSMGO is more readily available there.

Omani ports, including Sohar, Salalah, Muscat, and Duqm, have ample LSMGO supplies with options for prompt delivery possible.

By Tuhin Roy

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 9 October, 2024