Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Prompt availability is tight in Fujairah; VLSFO and LSMGO availability is good in several Chinese ports; LSMGO availability good across Omani ports.

Published

1 year ago

October 4, 2023

Admin

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:

Prompt availability is tight in Fujairah
VLSFO and LSMGO availability is good in several Chinese ports
LSMGO availability good across Omani ports

Singapore

Singapore has witnessed average bunker demand so far this week. VLSFO availability remains tight in Singapore, with lead times of 8-11 days advised. A source says that some suppliers have extended their delivery lead times for the grade due to term contract commitments, which has pushed the lead times up.

Meanwhile, lead times of 6-9 days and 3-5 days are recommended for HSFO and LSMGO at the Southeast Asian bunkering hub – virtually unchanged from last week.

Residual fuel oil stocks in Singapore averaged 3% lower in September compared to August, data from Enterprise Singapore shows. Net fuel oil imports to Singapore surged 17% in September. While imports rose 12%, exports dipped 2%.

The Southeast Asian bunker hub’s middle distillate stocks, on the other hand, climbed 18% higher in September than in August.

China, East Asia and Oceania

Bunkering remains muted in Zhoushan due to the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays observed from 29 September to 8 October in the country.

A source says that most suppliers will resume bunker deliveries in the Chinese bunkering hub starting on Monday after the holiday period. Lead times of up to 14 days were recommended for all grades in the past week.

Meanwhile, the northern Chinese port of Dalian has a good supply of VLSFO and HSFO. The nearby port of Tianjin also has good availability of VLSFO, but LSMGO and HSFO remain under pressure, and deliveries are subject to enquiry. HSFO is subject to enquiry in another northern Chinese port of Qingdao, but there is ample supply of VLSFO and LSMGO.

Availability of both grades remains good in the southern Chinese ports of Shanghai and Xiamen as well. HSFO supply remains tight in Shanghai. Meanwhile, the prompt availability of VLSFO and LSMGO remains under pressure in Yangpu.

Supply of both grades remain subject to enquiry in the Chinese ports of Fuzhou and Guangzhou.

Availability of all grades remains good in Hong Kong, with unchanged lead times of 5-7 days. Strong wind gusts of 20-22 knots and swells of close to a metre are forecast to hit Hong Kong between 6-7 October, which may disrupt bunker deliveries.

Rough weather conditions are predicted in the South Korean ports of Ulsan, Onsan, Busan and Yeosu between 5-8 October, and in Daesan and Taean between 4-6 October, which might hamper bunker operations at these ports.

Availability for VLSFO and LSMGO has improved in South Korea, with lead times coming down from 5-11 days last week to 3-9 days now. HSFO requires lead times of 3-9 days as well. A source says that one supplier can offer all grades for prompter dates, but these stems are typically priced at a steep premium.

Adverse weather conditions are also forecast in the Kiwi port of Tauranga between 9-10 October, which may impact bunkering.

South Asia

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

Meanwhile, supply of both grades remains under pressure in the Indian ports of Mumbai and Visakhapatnam, where deliveries are subject to availability. In Tuticorin, both grades remain subject to enquiry as it has been in recent weeks.

A supplier says that the port of Chennai on the southern coast, and Haldia and Paradip on the eastern coast of India are almost out of stock for both grades.

The Sri Lankan port of Colombo has good avails of VLSFO and LSMGO, a source says.

Middle East

Prompt availability remains “super tight” across all grades in the UAE port amid good demand. Several suppliers are recommending lead times of 5-7 days. Some suppliers can still offer prompt dates for all grades depending on stem sizes, a source says.

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

LSMGO remains readily available in the Omani ports of Duqm, Sohar, Salalah and Muscat, with prompt supply possible.

By Tuhin Roy

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 4 October, 2023

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Bunker Fuel Availability

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (10 October 2024)

Bunker report panellists include Island Oil Limited, Cockett Marine Oil Pte, Monjasa A/S and KPI OceanConnect.

Published

2 days ago

October 11, 2024

Admin

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (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: 11 October, 2024

Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (10 Oct 2024)

VLSFO and LSMGO availability normal in Houston; operations suspended in Florida ports amid Hurricane Milto.

Published

2 days ago

October 11, 2024

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:

VLSFO and LSMGO availability normal in Houston
Operations suspended in Florida ports amid Hurricane Milton

North America

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in Houston. Lead times of 4-6 days are recommended for both grades in the port. Prompt HSFO availability is tight, with lead times of up to eight days recommended for the grade, a trader said.

No product loading delays have been reported in the Houston area, another source said.

Several ports in Florida have been shut down because of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall on the western coast of Florida on Wednesday evening. The hurricane weakened into a category 3 hurricane before hitting Florida, but has been very destructive.

Port operations and bunkering have been suspended in the ports of Tampa, Manatee, St. Petersburg and Fort Myers since Tuesday, which were in the direct path of the hurricane. Bunkering usually happens by trucks in Tampa and all deliveries have been called off, a source said.

On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden described Hurricane Milton as the “storm of the century” and urged residents to evacuate ahead of the landfall.

Bunker deliveries in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) have been suspended since Monday because of bad weather conditions. Calmer weather from Thursday afternoon could allow bunkering to resume in the area and for suppliers to clear backlogs caused by weather disruptions. One supplier is accepting orders for prompt supply in GOLA, but these deliveries are still subject to weather conditions.

Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in Baltimore – located on the East Coast of the US. One supplier can deliver LSMGO within two days, a source said.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in New York. Lead times of 2-4 days are recommended for both grades. Prompt HSFO supply can be tight in the port, with lead times of seven days recommended for the grade, a trader said. There is strong HSFO demand from container lines in New York, the trader added.

Prompt availability is tight in the West Coast ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Lead times of 8-10 days are generally recommended to secure VLSFO and LSMGO in both locations.

Caribbean and Latin America

Availability is normal in Balboa and Cristobal in Panama. Some suppliers are able to supply VLSFO and LSMGO for prompt delivery dates in both locations.

Bunkering was suspended in Bahamas’ Freeport on Thursday because of the rough weather that Hurricane Milton brought with it. The area was experiencing strong storm-force wind gusts of up to 55 knots, making barge deliveries difficult. Calmer weather conditions are forecast for Saturday, which could allow bunkering to resume in Freeport.

Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO availability is tight in Jamaica’s Kingston, a source said.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal at Argentina’s Zona Comun anchorage. Wind gusts ranging between 16-27 knots are forecast in Zona Comun on Thursday. Winds at the higher end of that range can pose problems to bunker deliveries by barge.

By Nithin Chandran

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 11 October, 2024

Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (9 October 2024)

Prompt supply is tight in the ARA; HSFO is tight in Las Palmas; prompt VLSFO is tight in Richards Bay.

Published

3 days ago

October 10, 2024

Admin

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