Energy and commodities trading company BGN on Wednesday (29 July) launched its first US-based retail marine bunkering business, marking another important milestone in the continued expansion of its global shipping platform.

To launch its bunkering operations, BGN has partnered with Houston-based Centerline Logistics Corporation, a marine petroleum transportation company, chartering two new barges, the Jackson Eades and MGI 2100. The company’s double-hulled fleet of bunker and terminal barges are designed to maximise safety and minimise environmental impact.

The new business will supply high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO), very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) and marine gas oil (MGO) to vessels calling at ports across the US Gulf Coast.

Initially, the operation will support BGN’s owned and chartered LPG fleet of around 40 vessels, helping to strengthen the integration between our trading, shipping and marine fuels businesses. The new service will also provide reliable, competitive bunkering solutions to third-party shipowners operating throughout the region.

Harry Thwaites, Head of Fuel Oil, Feedstocks and Marine Fuels, said: “We are delighted to launch BGN’s first retail bunkering business, representing an important milestone in the continued growth of our marine fuels platform. The US Gulf Coast is one of the world’s most important shipping and energy hubs, making it the ideal location to establish our first retail bunkering operation.

“Initially, the business will support our own global LPG fleet while also providing reliable, competitive marine fuel solutions to third-party shipowners operating across the region.

“We are also pleased to be working with world-class partners such as Centerline Logistics, whose advanced fleet of liquid oil barges will support our ambition to grow BGN’s bunkering operations across the Americas. Going forward, we will look to expand into other major international ports as we continue to strengthen our marine fuels trading platform globally.”

Photo credit: BGN
Published: 30 July, 2026

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 fuel availability is tight in ARA
• Slight port congestion seen in Gibraltar
• VLSFO requires needs notice of 5-7 days off Algoa Bay

Northwest Europe

Fuel availability is tight for prompt delivery dates in the ARA, and buyers are recommended lead times between 5-7 days to secure supplies, a trader said.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have averaged 3% higher so far in July, compared to June’s monthly average, according to Insights Global data.

The ARA hub has imported only 134,000 b/d of fuel oil in July so far, a sharp drop from June’s monthly average of 215,000 b/d, according to Vortexa cargo data. Shipments originated from Syria, France (21%) and Colombia (17%) among other countries.

The region’s independent gasoil inventories – which include diesel and heating oil – have dropped by 6% in July, compared to June, according to the Insights Global data. 

The region has imported 126,000 b/d of gasoil in July so far, down significantly from 188,000 b/d imported in June, according to Vortexa data. Most of these shipments have come from Sweden (17%), the UK (16%) and Canada (13%).

Bunker availability is normal in Germany’s Hamburg, and all fuel grades can be delivered within five days, a trader told ENGINE.

Off Denmark’s Skaw and in Sweden’s Gothenburg, bunker fuel availability is tight, and fuel buyers are advised booking deliveries around 10 days ahead for any fuel grade, according to a trader.

Mediterranean

Those looking to bunker in the Gibraltar Strait ports are recommended to book stems around 5-7 days ahead, a trader said.

There are 13 vessels awaiting bunkers at Gibraltar, and some suppliers are running around 6-10 hours behind schedule on deliveries, port agent MH Bland said.

Buyers can secure deliveries in Barcelona with a lead time of seven days, a trader said.

In Las Palmas, buyers are advised lead times of 10–12 days for HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries, a trader told ENGINE.

VLSFO fuel availability is tight off Malta, with lead times of around seven days recommended, a trader said. ULSFO availability is also tight, while it is possible to get prompt deliveries of LSMGO, the trader added.

VLSFO availability is tight in Istanbul, and suppliers are recommended booking with lead times of between 5-7 days, a trader said. LSMGO is available more promptly in the port, the trader added.

Africa

HSFO availability remains limited across most African ports, a trader told ENGINE.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains tight in Lome and off Walvis Bay for prompt supplies, with buyers advised to book seven days ahead, a trader told ENGINE.

VLSFO deliveries at the Lagos anchorage requires 5–7 days of notice, a local supplier told ENGINE.

Prompt VLSFO availability is tight off Algoa Bay, with buyers advised at least 5–7 days of notice, a trader said.

VLSFO availability remains tight in Nacala and Maputo, where suppliers recommend lead times of around 5–7 days, a trader said.

Bunker availability is tight in Port Louis, with buyers advised booking VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries seven days ahead, a trader said.

By Nachiket Tekawade

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 30 July, 2026

The Port of Rotterdam Authority recently published bunker fuel sales data for the second quarter (Q2) of 2026.

Deliveries of ultra low sulphur fuel oil, very low sulphur fuel oil, high sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in Q2 2026 (against on year) recorded respectively 123,190 metric tonnes (mt) (+33%  from 162,142 mt), 354,448 mt (-9.1% from 439,804 mt), 704,637 mt (+10.9% from 619,010 mt), 266,570(+18% from 273,696 mt), 64,777 mt (-8.2% from 86,821 mt). 

Bio-blended variants of ultra low sulphur fuel oil, very low sulphur fuel oil, high sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in Q2 2026 (against on year) recorded respectively 22,032 mt (-28.3% from  24,573 mt), 144,665 mt (-57% from 68,271 mt), 30,191 mt (+15.3% from 38,490 mt), 34,574 mt (+627.7% from 31,663 mt) and 8,413 mt (-30.2% from 2,223 mt).

Port data showed 273,021 m3 of liquefied natural gas (LNG) being delivered as a marine fuel in Q2 2026, down by 17.4% from 207,658 m3 in Q2 2025. Bio-methanol and bio-blended LNG recorded 2,845 mt and 7,506 m3 respectively in Q2 2026.

Ethanol as a bunker fuel was reported in Rotterdam for the first time with 1,025 mt delivered in Q2 2026,  following an ethanol-methanol blend bunkering operation of container vessel Eco Levant in May.

Manifold Times previously reported Evos Rotterdam holding a ground-breaking ceremony for its methanol and ethanol expansion project at the Port of Rotterdam, formally starting the construction phase of a major investment in additional terminal capacity.

Once operational in early 2028, the expansion will give Evos Rotterdam greater capacity to handle methanol and ethanol for industrial customers, as well as for the developing market in cleaner, low-carbon marine fuels and bunkering.

Shipping giant A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) recently announced a new milestone in its marine fuel trials, with its dual-fuel feeder vessel Laura Maersk successfully operating on 100% ethanol for a second time.

The latest trial marked a significant step forward from earlier tests, as the vessel was supplied through a larger-scale bunkering operation conducted by barge in Rotterdam.

Related: X-Press Feeders, METHANAVE complete first ethanol-methanol bunkering op in Rotterdam
Related: Maersk advances ethanol fuel trials with larger-scale Rotterdam bunkering

Photo credit: Port of Rotterdam
Published: 29 July, 2026