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ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

VLSFO availability improves in Singapore; demand weak in Zhoushan; prompt availability tight in Fujairah.

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RESIZED ENGINE East of Suez

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:

15 August 2023

  • VLSFO availability improves in Singapore
  • Demand weak in Zhoushan
  • Prompt availability tight in Fujairah

 

Singapore

Suppliers in Singapore have been seeing average demand so far this week, a source says. VLSFO availability has improved in the port, with lead times for the grade coming down from 8-9 days last week to 3-5 days now.

Meanwhile, some suppliers that were offering HSFO with lead times of 8-9 days last week, are now recommending slightly longer lead times of 9-11 days. LSMGO remains readily available, with unchanged lead times of 2-4 days.

Singapore’s residual fuel oil stocks have averaged 12% higher so far this month than in July, according to Enterprise Singapore. The port’s net fuel oil imports have declined by 7% so far in August. Both fuel oil imports and exports have declined this month. Fuel oil imports have dropped by 12%, while fuel oil exports have plunged by 27%.

Meanwhile, the port’s distillate stocks have shed 8% so far this month.

 

East Asia and Oceania

A source says weak demand has prevented tightness in Zhoushan, with most suppliers recommending short lead times of 3-5 days – almost unchanged from last week.

Availability across all bunker fuel grades remains good in Hong Kong amid decent demand. Several suppliers are advising unchanged lead times of around seven days across all grades.

Meanwhile, all port operations resumed late last week in the South Korean ports of Pyeongtaek, Dangjin, Ulsan, Onsan and Yeosu, after being suspended by typhoon Khanun. This has helped to improve availability across all fuel grades in South Korean ports. Weak demand has also been keeping tightness in check, a source adds.

Some suppliers are now recommending lead times of 5-7 days for VLSFO and LSMGO in South Korean ports. Last week, most suppliers were offering lead times in a wide range of 6-17 days for both grades. HSFO requires a similar 5-7 days of lead time now – improved from eight days last week.

A source says that eastern South Korean ports are likely be hit indirectly and get bunker operations disrupted by typhoon Lan as it moves towards Japan.

Rough weather conditions are forecast in the South Korean ports of Ulsan, Onsan and Busan until 20 August, and in Yeosu between 18-20 August, and could disrupt bunkering further.

Adverse weather conditions are also forecast in the Vietnamese port of Ho Chi Minh between 16-22 August, and in the Kiwi port of Tauranga on 17 and 20 August, which might affect bunker deliveries at these ports.

 

South Asia

VLSFO and LSMGO grades can be delivered with around 2-3 days of lead time in Kandla on the northwest coast of India, and in the country’s southern ports of Cochin and Chennai.

Availability of both grades remains tight in Mumbai and Visakhapatnam, where delivery dates are subject to availability. On the other hand, both grades remain subject to enquiry in Tuticorin port on the southeast coast and Haldia on the east coast, a source says.

Bad weather is forecast in the Indian west coast ports of Kandla and Sikka between from 15-24 August, which could affect bunkering.

 

Middle East

Prompt availability remains tight in Fujairah amid good demand, and lead times are unchanged from last week at 5-7 days. But some suppliers can offer prompt stems across all grades subject to stem sizes, the source adds.

The nearby UAE port of Khor Fakkan has good availability of all grades, with lead times of 5-7 days advised – virtually unchanged from last week.

By Tuhin Roy

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 16 August, 2023

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China: Chimbusco and BJEC enter green methanol cooperation agreement

Document was signed between Ding Lihai, deputy general manager of Chimbusco, and Li Jianjun, deputy general manager of BJEC.

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Chimbusco x BJEC MT

China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co.,Ltd. (Chimbusco) and POWERCHINA Beijing Engineering Corporation Limited (BJEC) on Thursday (3 July) formally entered into a green methanol strategic cooperation framework agreement.

The document was signed between Ding Lihai, deputy general manager of Chimbusco, and Li Jianjun, deputy general manager of BJEC.

BJEC, a subsidiary of China Power Engineering Group, is experienced in the survey, design, construction and technology research and development of large-scale renewable energy projects.

Moving forward, the two parties said they will respectively focus on their core advantages and work together to promote the production, supply, storage and refuelling of green methanol as an energy source to help support the low-carbon transformation of the shipping industry.

Ding Lihai said: “The shipping industry is one of the important sources of global carbon emissions. Promoting low-carbon fuel is the key to the transformation of the industry. As the main force in the supply of bunker fuel, Chimbusco has been committed to expanding its clean fuel supply capacity. The cooperation with BJEC will integrate the advantages of green energy development and fuel supply, accelerate the large-scale application of green methanol, and meet the needs of shipping companies for clean fuel. We look forward to providing effective solutions for the green transformation of the shipping industry through the joint efforts of both parties.”

Li Jianjun said: “Implementing the ‘dual carbon’ goal is an important responsibility of enterprises. BJEC has accumulated strong technical strength in the field of green energy. This cooperation with Chimbusco will focus on the entire industrial chain of green methanol, from raw materials, production to supply, to provide clean and sustainable fuel solutions for the shipping industry. The complementary advantages of both parties will promote the rapid development of the green methanol industry and inject strong impetus into the low-carbon transformation of the shipping industry.”

 

Photo credit: China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co.,Ltd.
Published: 8 July 2025

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Towngas and Royal Vopak collaborate to expand green methanol supply chain network

‘Towngas has recently completed a 6,000-tonne green methanol bunkering project, the largest in Asia,” said its Chief Operating Officer – Green Fuel and Chemicals.

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Towngas x Royal Vopak MT

Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) and Vopak China Management Co., Ltd. (Royal Vopak) on Tuesday (8 July) said both recently signed a strategic framework cooperation agreement to collaborate in areas such as green methanol production, storage, bunkering, and trading etc.

Focusing on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Asia-Pacific markets, both parties are joining forces to expand an efficient green methanol supply chain network and support the shipping industry’s low-carbon transition.

The two parties will capitalise on their respective strengths to expand the supply network of green methanol.

Towngas employs proprietary technology to convert agricultural and forestry waste as well as scrap tyres into green methanol, and has obtained multiple international certifications and provides a sufficient supply of green methanol for maritime fuel bunkering.

Royal Vopak provides green methanol storage and terminal services with its comprehensive storage and terminal infrastructure and coastal port network advantages.

Together, the two parties will achieve efficient resource allocation and ship green methanol to the Greater Bay Area, East China, South China, and the broader Asia-Pacific markets, further expanding the green methanol supply chain network.

Towngas and Royal Vopak will further develop multiple areas of regional cooperation, including in the Greater Bay Area. By leveraging the strengths of the ports in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, the partnership will focus on “production and storage synergy” as its core to strengthen cooperation around logistics and terminal facility construction, and to build an integrated green methanol storage and transportation network.

In East China, the two parties will centre their collaboration in Shanghai and Ningbo, two major international ports, to further strengthen cooperation in logistics storage and bunkering facility construction to meet the growing demand for green fuels at both ports.

In the Bohai Bay region, with Tianjin as the strategic hub, Towngas will transport green methanol produced at its northern China production base to Royal Vopak’s local storage tank farm, then achieve resource allocation through the Royal Vopak’s distribution network, supporting the supply of green methanol from northern China to the national and Asia-Pacific markets.

The two parties will also target key export markets, such as Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea, to accelerate overseas expansion and boost the market competitiveness of clean energy in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Towngas has recently completed a 6,000-tonne green methanol bunkering project, the largest in Asia,” said Sham Man-fai, Towngas Chief Operating Officer – Green Fuel and Chemicals.

“It was completed with the support of Royal Vopak’s Tianjin storage tank farm facilities, laying a solid foundation for this partnership.

“Towngas’s Inner Mongolia green methanol plant is set to increase its annual capacity from 100,000 tonnes to 150,000 tonnes by the end of this year, with plans to further expand to 300,000 tonnes by 2028. Together with Royal Vopak’s storage and terminal services infrastructure and coastal port network, the two parties will build a comprehensive green methanol supply chain network.”

 

Photo credit: Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
Published: 8 July 2025

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SEKAVIN starts new physical supply operations in the port of Istanbul and Izmit Bay

Operation is supported by three marine refuelling barges; namely Tarabya-E, Beykoz- E, and Kalamis-E.

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SEKAVIN BARGE

Piraeus-based bunkering firm SEKAVIN on Monday (7 July) said it has recently started new physical supply operations in the port of Istanbul and Izmit Bay.

The operation is supported by three marine refuelling barges; namely Tarabya-E, Beykoz- E, and Kalamis-E. The bunkering vessels have successfully completed numerous deliveries to seagoing vessels.

According to SEKAVIN, Istanbul represents one of the world’s most strategic and challenging maritime environments. The country sees more than 43,000 annual Bosphorus passages and delivers roughly 2 million metric tons per year in bunkers to receiving ships.

In a statement to Manifold Times, John Tsogas, Global Head of Bunkering at SEKAVIN, noted his company intends to offer partners “a very reliable and flexible service” covering the Northeast Med with Istanbul.

The development is in combination with the bunkering firm’s current physical operations in Syros port, together with their traditional Piraeus physical operations which have been carried out for almost 50 years.

Related: SEKAVIN and GCL to strengthen marine fuel supply and logistics in key bunkering hubs

 

Photo credit: SEKAVIN
Published: 8 July 2025

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