Bunker Fuel

ENGINE: Americas Fuel Availability Outlook (11 June 2026)

Tight prompt supply in Houston; Paranagua, Rio de Janeiro supply constrained; Punta Colorada targets higher throughput.

Published

2 hours ago

June 12, 2026

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:

Tight prompt supply in Houston
Paranagua, Rio de Janeiro supply constrained
Punta Colorada targets higher throughput

North America

In Houston, bunker demand has been steady over the past week, with prompt availability tight across all three conventional fuel grades. HSFO and VLSFO require lead times of 5–7 days, and LSMGO can be delivered by most suppliers within 4–5 days, a trader said.

At the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA), operations are being conducted on a first-come, first-served basis and remain subject to weather conditions.

High seas are forecast for 14 June, which could impact bunker deliveries at the anchorage. Recommended lead times for all three conventional grades stand at 5–8 days this week.

In New York, bunker demand has softened this week, while variable fuel availability has resulted in unclear lead times, a trader said. HSFO and VLSFO are tight for prompt supply, with lead times of 6–8 days this week, while LSMGO is available within 3–5 days.

No backlog or bunker barge readiness issues have been reported. High wind gusts are forecast through 12 June, which could disrupt bunkering operations at the port.

The Atlantic hurricane season began on 1 June, though tropical cyclone risks across North America are currently low.

High pressure is expected to maintain stable conditions across the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic this week, reducing the likelihood of weather-related disruptions to bunker operations.

On the US West Coast, fuel availability across all three conventional grades is normal at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Recommended lead times for HSFO, VLSFO, and LSMGO stand at 7–10 days this week.

Latin America and the Caribbean

In Panama, bunker demand is strong, and fuel prices continue to be high, a trader said.

Availability is good at both Balboa and Cristobal, with recommended lead times of 3-4 days for VLSFO and LSMGO. HSFO requires slightly longer lead times of 4-5 days.

High wind gusts forecast in Balboa on 12-13 June could disrupt bunker operations. Deliveries are being carried out on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to vessels holding confirmed Panama Canal transit slots.

In Colombia, the ports of Santa Marta, Cartagena and Barranquilla have good availability of both VLSFO and LSMGO, with the earliest delivery dates available in 3-4 days, a source said.

Across the Caribbean, the remnants of Tropical Storm Cristina are forecast to move into the Bay of Campeche later this week, bringing increased showers and thunderstorms.

While the system has a low chance of further development, a low-end tropical storm cannot be completely ruled out. Elsewhere, dry air and wind shear are expected to suppress tropical development across much of the Caribbean.

In Freeport, Bahamas, bunkering conditions remain stable with no weather-related disruptions expected. Cruise ships continue to receive operational priority, which may influence bunker scheduling, a trader tells ENGINE.

Further south, St. Eustatius is expected to experience high wind gusts from 10-14 June, which could affect bunkering operations.

Deliveries are conducted at the anchorage, while cruise ships receive priority. Bunker barge operations may face weather-related delays.

Offshore Trinidad, high wind gusts and rough seas are forecast through 13 June, posing a risk of disruptions to offshore bunkering operations.

Deliveries are conducted while underway, and bunker barge delays are possible due to adverse sea conditions, a source said.

In Brazil, bunker availability varies by port. Santos is experiencing congestion, with VLSFO and LSMGO available in 5-8 days, although shorter lead times may be possible depending on stem size and price premiums, a source said.

Availability is normal in Rio Grande, Belem, and Vila do Conde, where both grades can be supplied within 4-6 days.

In contrast, Paranagua is facing tight availability, with the earliest delivery date currently 15 June. Availability is also tight in Rio de Janeiro, where bookings are being done under prior consultation and lead times remain uncertain, a trader said.

Bunker deliveries in Argentina’s Zona Comun continue despite rough weather conditions at the anchorage, a source told ENGINE.

Dense fog forecast through 12 June could disrupt operations. Deliveries are being carried out on a first-come, first-served basis.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains good, with typical lead times of 5-7 days.

Meanwhile, a major supplier is increasing the planned throughput capacity of its new crude export terminal at Punta Colorada from 550,000 b/d to 700,000 b/d.

According to Antares Ship Agency, the decision reflects current market dynamics and growing interest in diversifying crude supply sources. The higher capacity will be achieved through increased pumping rates and enhanced onshore infrastructure.

Once operational, the terminal is expected to handle up to 128 vessels annually, with each lifting around 200,000 barrels.

By Gautamee Hazarika

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 12 June, 2026

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Alternative Fuels

Ports of Barcelona and Shanghai team up to develop green ports, alternative bunker fuels

Agreement officially establishes the ‘sister ports’ relationship between Shanghai and Barcelona and aims to boost cooperation in areas such as developing green ports and alternative fuels.

Published

2 hours ago

June 12, 2026

Admin

Ports of Barcelona and Shanghai team up to develop green ports, alternative bunker fuels

The Port of Barcelona on Thursday (11 June) said it signed a new strategic cooperation agreement with the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission (SMTC) and Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG).

The agreement officially establishes the “sister ports” relationship between Shanghai and Barcelona and aims to boost cooperation in areas such as the digitalisation and security of port operations; developing green ports and alternative fuels; intermodality and fostering sustainable maritime corridors between the Far East and the Mediterranean.

The agreement was signed by José Alberto Carbonell, president of the Port of Barcelona; Xiao Hui, general director of the SMTC, and Yang ZhiYong, vice president of SIPG, in the presence of Jaume Duch, Regional Minister for European Union and Foreign Action.

The relationship between the Port of Barcelona and the Port of Shanghai has intensified in recent years. In late July 2025, a preliminary agreement was signed between both port authorities, which led to a technical visit in September 2025 by a delegation from Shanghai led by Wang Haijian, Vice President and Director of Operations of SIPG, to advance the development of the Green Shipping and Digital Corridor between both ports.

“This new institutional visit and the signing of the new agreement consolidates the Port of Barcelona’s position as a Euro-Mediterranean logistics hub and strengthens its links with one of the main ports and economic centres in the world,” the port said.

Photo credit: Port of Barcelona
Published: 12 June, 2026

Biofuel

NYK Line subsidiary Kinkai Yusen to trial B24 bio bunker fuel on RoRo vessel

Kinkai Yusen says it will conduct a demonstration operation using biofuel refuelled at Hakata Port on 16 June on the RoRo vessel “Nanotsu”.

Published

2 hours ago

June 12, 2026

Admin

NYK Line subsidiary Kinkai Yusen to trial B24 bio bunker fuel on RoRo vessel

NYK Line subsidiary Kinkai Yusen on Tuesday (9 June) said it will conduct a demonstration operation using biofuel refuelled at Hakata Port on 16 June on the RoRo vessel Nanotsu, which operates between Hakata Port and Tsuruga Port.

The company said it will be the first instance of a domestic RoRo vessel operating using biofuel at Hakata Port.

The biofuel (B24) which will be used will comprise 24% biofuel and conventional marine fuel, and is expected to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions without requiring major modifications to existing ship equipment.

“The procurement of biofuel will be carried out in cooperation with Idemitsu Kosan Co Ltd and Itochu Enex Co Ltd,” it said in a statement.

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Tetsuya
Published: 12 June, 2026

Bunker Fuel

Argus Media: Bunker lead times grow since US–Iran war began

Longer lead times, between the placing of a bunker fuel order and the fuel being supplied, reflect concerns about potential supply disruptions and strategies to deal with price volatility, says Argus.

Published

2 hours ago

June 12, 2026

Admin

Shipowners and traders have been booking spot bunker fuel supplies further in advance since the start of the Iran–US conflict, according to data collected by Argus.

10 June 2026

The longer lead times, between the placing of a bunker fuel order and the fuel being supplied, reflect concerns about potential supply disruptions and strategies to deal with price volatility.

Disruption to shipping through and around the strait of Hormuz has encouraged buyers to secure fuel as far as four to six weeks ahead rather than risk encountering shortages, market participants said. Argus’ bunker assessments are typically for deliveries with a maximum of 9-12 days and up to 14 days for certain African ports.

The shift reflects concerns about reduced availability, with around 20pc of global crude having previously transited the strait now missing and therefore restricting supply of bunker grades. Higher freight costs have also reduced the economic incentive for suppliers to import fuel, which further reduced availability.

Very-low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) prices have strengthened sharply across major bunkering hubs since the start of the US-Iran war, reflecting tightening feedstock availability and growing supply concerns. Delivered VLSFO indications in Rotterdam have rose by around 45pc from 28 February to 31 May, prices in Panama increased by 49pc and in Singapore by 47pc.

The tightening market has been particularly evident in Fujairah, the world’s fourth-largest bunkering hub, where an acute supply shortage has left most suppliers without prompt VLSFO availability until mid-June. Market participants said disruptions to regional feedstock flows and the loss of supply from Kuwait’s al-Zour refinery sharply reduced local blending activity, pushing Fujairah VLSFO premiums to record highs of $500-700/t against front-month Singapore cargo values in early June.

The change in buying patterns has been happening worldwide. Delivery times for VLSFO in Singapore have extended to about 10-15 days forward in some cases, depending on supplies given tight blendstock availability, traders said this week. Typical delivery periods of about 7-10 days forward remain possible.

Singapore loadings for low-sulphur marine gasoil (LSMGO) have also slowed, with market participants expecting this to ease only in the second half of June. LSMGO supplies are tight because of delays in cargo arrivals from South Korea, and most current availability will go towards previously booked orders. The lead time for high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) has been steady at around 4-5 days, as supplies are ample in Singapore.

In Gibraltar, the average lead time in the three months before the war started was around five days. This is now 10 days. In Rotterdam the average booking period is up to 10 days from seven.

In South America, rising vessel traffic through the Panama Canal has increased congestion and lengthened waiting times. The tighter transit window has pushed bunker buyers in Balboa and Cristobal to secure fuel further in advance, with market participants reporting a shift away from prompt procurement toward longer lead-time bookings to ensure product availability and align deliveries with delayed canal crossings.

The average bunker fuel lead time in the Panama Canal increased to 14 days in March-May, from 10 days in the three months ending 28 February.

In Brazilian ports, longer lead times have also been driven by rising fuel oil export flows to Singapore, where demand for Brazilian supply has increased because of the disruption linked to the strait of Hormuz. The additional export pull has reduced feedstock availability for VLSFO blending in Brazil, tightening prompt supply at key ports like Santos and Paranagua.

Santos’ average bunker fuel lead times increased to 10 days in March-May, from eight days in the three months to 28 February. In Paranagua, average lead times rose to 13 days from 10 days over the same period.

By Gabriel Tassi Lara, Natália Coelho and Cassia Teo

Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 12 May, 2026