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ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

VLSFO and HSFO availability tight in Singapore; several East Asian ports brace for possible weather-related disruptions; demand good 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:

  • VLSFO availability tight in Singapore
  • Weak bunker demand in Zhoushan
  • LSMGO availability good across Omani ports

 

Singapore

After a spike in bunker demand last week, the demand has been relatively quiet so far this week, a source says. Availability of VLSFO has tightened in Singapore, with lead times increasing slightly from 8-10 days last week to 10-12 days now

On the other hand, lead times for HSFO have come down from 6-11 days last week to 6-9 days now. LSMGO remains readily available, with most suppliers offering unchanged lead times of 2-4 days.

Residual fuel oil stocks in Singapore averaged 9% higher in August than in July, data from Enterprise Singapore shows. Despite the port’s net fuel oil imports declining by 14% in August, the port’s fuel oil stocks grew above 21 million bbls in August. Overall, there was less cargo trade, with fuel oil imports slumping by 13%, and exports by 9%.

The Southeast Asian hub’s middle distillate stocks remained roughly steady at above 7 million bbls in August.

 

East Asia and Oceania

A source says bunker demand remains weak in Zhoushan. Some suppliers are offering VLSFO and LSMGO with lead times of 4-6 days – slightly up from 3-5 days last week. Lead times of 3-5 days are advised for HSFO.

Bunker deliveries resumed at Zhoushan’s outer port limits (OPL) area on Tuesday after being suspended by Typhoon Saola-induced bad weather since Thursday. All four anchorages in the Chinese bunkering hub are operational now, a source says.

Availability has improved across all bunker fuel grades in Hong Kong, with recommended lead times halving from almost 14 days last week to around seven days now.

Meanwhile, availability of VLSFO and LSMGO has improved in South Korean ports amid average bunker demand, a source says. Most suppliers are advising lead times of 7-13 days for both grades now, compared to lead times of up to 15 days recommended last week. On the other hand, lead times of HSFO have risen from 10-11 days last week, to 7-13 days now.

Rough weather is forecast in the South Korean ports of Ulsan, Onsan, Busan and Yeosu between 5-10 September, which might disrupt bunker operations at these ports.

Adverse weather conditions are also predicted in the Thai ports of Koh Sichang and Leam Chabang between 10-12 September, and in the Kiwi port of Tauranga on 11 September, which might impact bunker operations.

 

South Asia

Several Indian ports, including Kandla on the northwest coast, and Cochin and Chennai on the southern coast, have good availability of VLSFO and LSMGO, with some suppliers advising short lead times of around 2-3 days.

Meanwhile, both grades still remain subject to availability in the Indian ports of Mumbai and Visakhapatnam, and subject to enquiry in Tuticorin on the southeast coast and Haldia on the east coast.

Bad weather is forecast to hit the Indian ports of Kandla and Sikka between 8-12 September, and in Visakhapatnam on 17 September, which may hamper bunker deliveries

 

Middle East

Prompt availability remains “super tight” in Fujairah, with most suppliers recommending unchanged lead times of 5-7 days across all grades. However, some can offer prompt supply, but these deliveries depend on stem sizes.

All grades remain in ample availability across all grades in the UAE port of Khor Fakkan, with lead times of 5-7 days – virtually unchanged from last week.

LSMGO availability remains good across the Omani ports of Duqm, Sohar, Salalah and Muscat, with prompt supply available.

By Tuhin Roy

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 6 September, 2023

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Methanol

Chimbusco completes bunkering op of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship

“COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU” was supplied approximately 900 metric tonnes of methanol marine fuel by Chimbusco in Shanghai on 11 May.

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Chimbusco completes bunkering of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship

China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co Ltd (Chimbusco) completed a bunkering operation of the first domestically manufactured methanol dual-fuel container ship in Shanghai on 11 May, according to COSCO Shipping on Thursday (15 May). 

COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU was supplied approximately 900 metric tonnes (mt) of methanol marine fuel by Chimbusco at Pier 1 of COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry. 

The operation started on 7 May but was postponed due to unfavourable weather from the Jianghuai Cyclone.

Chimbusco completes bunkering of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship

COSCO Shipping said the operation marked an important achievement in green and low-carbon transformation in shipping, from ship construction and ecological layout of the entire green fuel industry chain of the company. 

Manifold Times previously reported the naming ceremony of China’s first 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship, COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU in Yangzhou.

The methanol dual-fuel container ship named was the first in a series of vessels from COSCO Shipping Holdings, constructed by COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Yangzhou. 

Related: COSCO Shipping names China’s first 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship

 

Photo credit: Cosco Shipping
Published: 23 May, 2025

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Vessel Arrest

Malaysia: MMEA detains Thai tanker off Kelantan after shown suspicious documents

Initial checks revealed that insurance documents and other documents related to the vessel appeared suspicious and all six crew members on board failed to provide valid identification documents.

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Malaysia: MMEA detains Thai tanker off Kelantan after shown suspicious documents

The Kelantan Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Thursday (22 May) said it has detained a suspicious tanker at about 100 nautical miles from the Tok Bali estuary on 20 May. 

Kelantan MMEA director, Maritime Captain Erwan Shah Soahdi said an MMEA asset had detained the tanker while patrolling the Malaysia-Vietnam border. 

The vessel was detected after displaying several suspicious signs at around 1 pm before it was successfully detained 20 minutes later.

Malaysia: MMEA detains Thai tanker off Kelantan after shown suspicious documents

“Initial checks revealed the vessel has six crew members, including a captain and all are believed to be Thai citizens aged between 38 and 70,” he said.

It was also found that the insurance documents and other documents related to the vessel appeared suspicious and all the crews on board the vessel failed to provide valid identification documents during the check. 

The case is being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.

 

Photo credit: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
Published: 23 May, 2025

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LNG Bunkering

Shell wraps up its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona

Milestone was achieved by Shell’s LNG bunker barge “Haugesund Knutsen” supplying the “Mein Schiff Relax” cruise ship at Port of Barcelona, says Dexter Belmar of Shell.

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Shell wraps up its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona

Energy giant Shell recently conducted its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona, according to Dexter Belmar, General Manager and Head of Global Downstream LNG on Thursday (22 May).

He said the milestone was achieved by Shell’s LNG bunker barge Haugesund Knutsen supplying the Mein Schiff Relax cruise ship.

“Barcelona, one of Europe and the Mediterranean’s leading cruise ports, is also a key LNG bunkering location for Shell as we help more cruise ships transition to lower-emission fuels,” he said in a social media post. 

“A huge thank you to Royal Caribbean Group for their trust, and to Knutsen and Port of Barcelona for their collaboration in making this bunkering safe and efficient.”

Shell wraps up its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona

Belmar said LNG is leading the way as the preferred alternative bunker fuel in the cruise industry. 

“At Shell, we’re proud to support LNG fuelling needs at 26 locations worldwide, including major cruise ports like Bahamas, Barcelona, Canaveral, Everglades, Jamaica, Miami, Singapore, Southampton, and Tenerife,” he added. 

 

Photo credit: Shell
Published: 23 May, 2025

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