Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (12 Nov 2024)

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in Singapore; bunker demand is low in Zhoushan; LSMGO availability is good in Omani ports.

Published

3 weeks ago

November 13, 2024

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:

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in Singapore
Bunker demand is low in Zhoushan
LSMGO availability is good in Omani ports

Singapore and Malaysia

Bunker demand in Singapore has increased this week, according to a source. VLSFO availability remains stable, with several suppliers now advising lead times of 2-8 days, compared to last week’s 4-7 days.

HSFO supply has also improved, with lead times reduced to 4-8 days from last week’s 5-11 days. LSMGO availability remains steady, with nearly unchanged lead times of 2-6 days.

Singapore's residual fuel oil stocks have averaged 1% higher this month compared to October, according to Enterprise Singapore’s data. The port’s fuel oil imports are down sharply, averaging 1.98 million bbls this month versus 7.55 million bbls in October, while exports have also fallen from 3.05 million bbls to 789,000 bbls. Middle distillate stocks at the port have remained steady.

At Malaysia's Port Klang, VLSFO and LSMGO supplies are abundant, with some suppliers offering prompt deliveries for smaller volumes, while HSFO availability remains limited.

East Asia

Availability in Zhoushan remains stable amid low bunker demand, with suppliers recommending lead times of 5–7 days, consistent with last week.

In Northern China, Dalian and Qingdao ports have sufficient supplies of VLSFO and LSMGO, although Qingdao has limited HSFO. Tianjin is experiencing tight supplies of HSFO and LSMGO, but VLSFO availability is adequate. In Shanghai, LSMGO is easily available, while VLSFO and HSFO are scarce. Fuzhou has strong stocks of both VLSFO and LSMGO, while Xiamen has limited LSMGO despite good VLSFO supply. Prompt availability of both grades remains limited in Yangpu and Guangzhou.

In Hong Kong, lead times for all bunker grades remain steady at seven days. Strong winds of 24-31 knots and swells over two meters are expected on Wednesday and Thursday, which may disrupt bunkering.

The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has issued a standby alert for Tuesday due to the potential impact of Tropical Storm Toraji, which was located about 630 km southeast of Hong Kong on Tuesday morning.

The storm is forecast to move west-northwest across the northern South China Sea, and the HKO will reassess the situation and issue higher warning signals if needed, according to GAC Hot Port News.

In Taiwan’s ports—Hualien, Kaohsiung, and Keelung—VLSFO and LSMGO remain readily available with consistent lead times of two days, the same as last week. In Taichung, lead times for both grades are around four days.

In South Korean ports, lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO have shortened from 4-12 days last week to 2-7 days now. However, HSFO supply has tightened further, with most suppliers running low on stocks due to high demand, making HSFO availability limited. Last week, suppliers recommended lead times of 8-12 days for HSFO.

Adverse weather is expected to disrupt bunker operations intermittently at Ulsan, Onsan, Busan, and Yeosu ports from 13-17 November, with potential interruptions at Daesan and Taean between 16-17 November.

VLSFO supply is generally stable at Japanese ports, although prompt deliveries are limited in Oita. HSFO availability is tight for prompt delivery at most ports, while LSMGO is readily available at major ports such as Tokyo, Chiba, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Osaka, Kobe, Sakai, Nagoya, Yokkaichi, Mizushima, and Oita.

Oceania

A bunker barge has been in dry dock since September, limiting VLSFO availability by barge at Fremantle and Kwinana ports until mid-November. LSMGO remains available at berth. Port Kembla, however, remains unaffected, with bunkering available by truck and ex-pipe.

In New South Wales, Sydney has sufficient LSMGO, though HSFO may require longer lead times. Melbourne and Geelong in Victoria have ample VLSFO and LSMGO, but prompt HSFO deliveries may be challenging.

In Queensland, Brisbane and Gladstone report adequate VLSFO and LSMGO with 7-8 day lead times, although HSFO availability in Brisbane is limited.

In New Zealand, Tauranga and Auckland have good VLSFO supplies, with Auckland also well-stocked in LSMGO. However, rough weather in Tauranga on Thursday and Friday could disrupt bunker operations.

South Asia

VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains tight at several Indian ports, including Kandla, Mumbai, Tuticorin, Chennai, and Cochin, consistent with recent weeks. In Visakhapatnam, Paradip, and Haldia, both grades are subject to availability.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's ports of Colombo and Hambantota have ample supplies of VLSFO, LSMGO and HSFO, with prompt lead times available.

Middle East

Prompt fuel availability in Fujairah remains tight, with lead times of around 5-7 days for all grades, consistent with last week. In Khor Fakkan, suppliers are also recommending 5-7 days for all grades.

In Basrah, Iraq, VLSFO and LSMGO are readily available, while both grades are nearly depleted in Ras Laffan, Qatar. Jeddah has a good supply of LSMGO, but VLSFO is limited. Djibouti is facing tight supplies of both VLSFO and LSMGO.

Omani ports, including Sohar, Salalah, Muscat, and Duqm, have ample LSMGO for prompt availability.

By Tuhin Roy

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 13 November 2024

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Bunker Fuel Availability

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (5 December 2024)

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

Published

20 hours ago

December 6, 2024

Admin

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (5 December 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: 6 December, 2024

Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (5 Dec 2024)

Low demand in Houston; bad weather disrupts bunkering in GOLA; Vibra halts VLSFO supply in Brazilian ports.

Published

20 hours ago

December 6, 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:

Low demand in Houston
Bad weather disrupts bunkering in GOLA
Vibra halts VLSFO supply in Brazilian ports

North America

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in Houston. Lead times of five days are recommended for both grades in the port. Prompt HSFO availability is tight, with lead times of up to 7-8 days recommended for the grade, a trader said.

Demand has slowed down in Houston this week, a source said.

Bunkering has been suspended in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) since Wednesday due to rough weather conditions. The area was experiencing strong gale-force wind gusts of up to 32 knots on Thursday morning, making barge deliveries difficult there. A window of calm weather from Thursday evening could enable bunker operations to resume in GOLA before conditions worsen again from Friday evening.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in New York. Lead times of 2-4 days are recommended for both grades. HSFO availability has tightened in New York. Most suppliers are unable to offer HSFO for both prompt dates and dates further out.

Securing both prompt and non-prompt stems for all fuel grades is tight at the New Orleans Outer Anchorage (NOLA). Some suppliers are unable to provide an exact date for when they will have the supply available.

Prompt availability is tight in the West Coast ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. More than seven days of lead times are generally recommended to secure VLSFO and LSMGO in both locations.

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is also tight in Vancouver, further up the West Coast of North America.

Caribbean and Latin America

Bunker demand has been good in Panamanian ports amid more daily transits through the Panama Canal. Availability has remained good for prompt dates in both Balboa and Cristobal.

Bunkering is expected to be suspended in the Bahamas’ Freeport from Friday onwards because of the rough weather. The area is forecast to experience strong wind gusts of up to 26 knots on Saturday, making bunkering difficult there.

Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO availability is tight in Jamaica’s Kingston. A supplier is not able to offer stems for delivery dates before the end of December, a source says.

Bunker operations were suspended in Zona Comun on Thursday after being suspended for a day due to bad weather conditions. However, bad weather conditions are forecast intermittently over the weekend and most of next week, which could trigger more suspensions.

Bunker fuel availability has remained normal in the Brazilian ports of Santos, Salvador and Paranaguá. Several suppliers are able to offer VLSFO and LSMGO stems with a lead time of 4-6 days.

In Rio de Janeiro, VLSFO can be secured within 5-7 days of lead time. There is no availability of LSMGO in the port at the moment.

Brazilian fuel supplier Vibra has halted VLSFO offering at Vila do Conde and Belém. The company said it faced several challenges since starting bunkering operations in the region and decided to end the project to focus on other opportunities.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 6 December, 2024

Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (4 Dec 2024)

Supply improves in the ARA; HSFO tightness has eased in Las Palmas; prompt VLSFO supply is tight in Richards Bay.

Published

2 days ago

December 5, 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:

Supply improves in the ARA
HSFO tightness has eased in Las Palmas
Prompt VLSFO supply is tight in Richards Bay

Northwestern Europe

Supply pressures have eased across all three grades in the ARA this week, a trader told ENGINE. Bunker availability is back to normal and lead times of 3-5 days are advised for all three grades.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks dipped by 3% in November compared to October, according to Insights Global data.

The region imported 333,000 b/d of fuel oil in November, up from 262,000 b/d imported in October, according to data from cargo tracker Vortexa. The ARA imported low-sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) and HSFO in a 31/69 ratio in November, compared to a 45/55 ratio in October.

Kuwait (14% of the total) emerged as the region’s biggest fuel oil import source last month. The UK, Iraq and France (11% each) ranked second, while Sweden (10%) ranked third. Other import sources include the US (9%).

The ARA hub’s independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil - decreased by 2% last month. The region imported 405,000 b/d of gasoil in November, a slight decline from 411,000 b/d of gasoil imported in October, according to Vortexa data.

Prompt bunker availability remains good in Germany’s Hamburg port, a trader told ENGINE. Lead times remain consistent with suppliers able to offer all three grades within 3-5 days.

Mediterranean

Bunker demand has spiked in the port in Gibraltar, according to a source. HSFO and LSMGO supply remains tight for prompt delivery. One trader recommends 5-7 days of lead time for HSFO, while another trader recommends lead times of up to 11 days for the grade. Lead times for LSMGO remain unchanged from last week with traders recommending around 7 days for the grade. VLSFO availability is normal with lead times of 3-5 days advised.

Gibraltar was witnessing adverse weather on Wednesday, with wind gusts of 23 knots in the port area. Five vessels were waiting to receive bunkers in Gibraltar on Wednesday, up from two on Tuesday, a source said. Wind gusts of 22 knots are forecast on Saturday and may complicate deliveries there.

In the Canary Islands’ port of Las Palmas, HSFO supply tightness has eased slightly, but the grade remains tight for prompt supply. Lead times for the grade have come down from last week's 7-10 days to 5-7 days. LSMGO availability remains tight for very prompt delivery dates, with lead times of 5-7 days advised. VLSFO availability is normal, with lead times unchanged at 3-5 days from last week.

Rough weather may trigger bunkering delays in Las Palmas on Wednesday and Thursday, a source said.

All grades remain tight for prompt supply in the Spanish port of Barcelona, a source said. Lead times of 5-7 days are advised for all grades in the port.

Portugal’s Lisbon has good availability across all grades, a trader said.

Bunker demand remains muted in Mediterranean bunker hubs like Piraeus, Malta Offshore and Istanbul, a trader told ENGINE. Availability has tightened in these ports as the year-end approaches.

In Greece’s Piraeus port, availability has tightened across all three grades, a trader said. Lead times of 7-10 days are recommended for all three grades, a source said. Calm weather is forecast in Piraeus for the rest of this week, making it conducive to bunkering.

Off Malta, supply tightness has persisted since last week, a trader said. Lead times of around 7-10 days are advised for all grades, one trader said. Another trader said HSFO and VLSFO require around five days of lead time, while LSMGO is plentiful, with 2-5 days recommended. Bad weather may impact bunkering intermittently from Wednesday and will likely continue into next week, a source said.

Turkey’s Istanbul port is also experiencing tightness across all grades with traders advising lead times of around 7-10 days for full coverage from suppliers.

Africa

VLSFO availability is still tight for prompt delivery dates in South Africa’s Durban and Richards Bay, a trader said. Lead times of 7-10 days are advised by traders for full coverage.

Securing LSMGO stems for prompt deliveries remains a challenge in Durban. Lead times of 7-10 days are recommended for the grade. While demand for LSMGO in Durban remains muted, demand for VLSFO is higher in the port.

Prompt availability is good for all three grades in Mauritius’ Port Louis, a trader said.

Namibia's Walvis Bay has ample bunker supply, according to a source. Lead times of around five days are advised for all three grades. Bunker demand has been strong, particularly for VLSFO and LSMGO. HSFO demand has been relatively less there. Bad weather may trigger bunkering disruptions from Wednesday to Friday, a source said.

By Manjula Nair

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 5 December, 2024