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Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (17 Dec 2024)

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is good in Taiwanese ports; bunker demand is low in western South Korean ports; prompt supply is tight across several Japanese ports.

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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 and LSMGO availability is good in Taiwanese ports
  • Bunker demand is low in western South Korean ports
  • Prompt supply is tight across several Japanese ports

Singapore and Malaysia

In Singapore, VLSFO availability has tightened, with lead times increasing from seven days last week to around 10 days now. Some suppliers can fulfil orders in as little as two days, but these expedited deliveries are usually priced higher than those for delivery dates further out.

HSFO supply remains tight, with recommended lead times holding steady at 9-12 days. Meanwhile, lead times for LSMGO deliveries have increased from 2-3 days last week to 2-8 days now.

Singapore’s residual fuel oil stocks have averaged 2% lower so far in December compared to November, according to Enterprise Singapore. Stocks have fallen below 18 million bbls despite a significant 61% increase in net fuel imports this month. Fuel oil imports have risen by 1.05 million bbls, while exports have dropped by 599,000 bbls. In contrast, middle distillate stocks in Singapore have grown, averaging 13% higher than last month.

At Malaysia’s Port Klang, VLSFO and LSMGO supplies remain abundant, with some suppliers offering prompt deliveries for smaller quantities. However, HSFO availability continues to be largely limited.

East Asia

VLSFO and HSFO availability in Zhoushan remains robust, with some suppliers able to deliver with lead times of 4-6 days. LSMGO supply has improved, with lead times reducing from 4-6 days last week to 2-4 days.

In Northern China, Dalian and Qingdao ports have ample supplies of VLSFO and LSMGO, though Qingdao faces limited HSFO availability. Tianjin is experiencing a tight supply across all fuel grades.

In Shanghai, LSMGO is readily available, but VLSFO and HSFO supplies are constrained. Fuzhou reports strong availability of both VLSFO and LSMGO, while Xiamen has good VLSFO supply but restricted LSMGO availability. Prompt availability of both grades remains limited at Yangpu and Guangzhou.

In Hong Kong, a lead time of around seven days is advised for all fuel grades, unchanged from last week. However, bunker operations may face disruptions on Wednesday due to a forecast of wind gusts of 20-21 knots and swells close to a meter.

In Taiwan, VLSFO and LSMGO supplies are stable at the Hualien, Kaohsiung, and Keelung ports, with lead times of 2-3 days, similar to last week. Taichung requires slightly longer lead times of about four days for both grades.

From 26 December to 24 January, the LSMGO bunker barge Chung Yu No. 16 in Kaohsiung will undergo annual maintenance, tightening the LSMGO supply and causing longer waiting times. Supply at other ports, including Hualien, Taichung, and Keelung, will remain unaffected, according to state-owned oil company CPC Corporation.

In South Korea, western ports such as Daesan are experiencing subdued demand and have reduced VLSFO prices compared to southern ports like Busan to attract buyers. Daesan’s VLSFO discount to Busan is around $29/mt on Tuesday.

Availability remains steady across all South Korean ports, with lead times for all grades ranging from 4-9 days, consistent with last week. However, intermittent rough weather is expected this week, potentially disrupting bunkering operations at Ulsan, Onsan, Busan, Daesan, Taean and Yeosu.

In Japan, prompt availability of all fuel grades is limited across major ports, including Tokyo, Chiba, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Osaka, Kobe, Sakai, Nagoya, Yokkaichi, Mizushima, and Oita. A slowdown in bunkering activity is expected ahead of the Year-end and New Year holidays from 29 December to 3 January. While bunker deliveries will continue during the holiday, the deadline for booking stems is Friday for December delivery dates and Monday for January dates, according to a source.

Subic Bay in the Philippines may experience inclement weather from 21-23 December, potentially disrupting bunkering operations. Similarly, adverse weather could impact bunkering at Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh port on 19 December.

Oceania

In Western Australia, the ports of Kwinana, Fremantle, and Kembla have a good supply of VLSFO and LSMGO with typical lead times of 7-8 days. In New South Wales, Sydney has ample LSMGO availability, but HSFO may require longer lead times.

Victoria’s ports, Melbourne and Geelong, have abundant VLSFO and LSMGO stocks, though securing prompt HSFO deliveries can be challenging. In Queensland, Brisbane and Gladstone also maintain sufficient VLSFO and LSMGO supplies with lead times of 7-8 days, though HSFO availability in Brisbane remains limited.

In New Zealand, Tauranga and Auckland have adequate VLSFO stocks, with Auckland also offering sufficient LSMGO supplies. However, rough weather is expected in Tauranga on 18 and 21 December, which could disrupt bunker operations.

South Asia

Supplies of VLSFO and LSMGO at Indian ports, including Mumbai, Kandla, Tuticorin, Cochin, and Chennai, remain constrained. Bunker deliveries at Visakhapatnam and Kandla may be disrupted by inclement weather expected on 18 and 20 December, respectively.

Sri Lanka’s ports of Colombo and Hambantota have good availability of VLSFO, LSMGO, and HSFO, with lead times remaining steady at around five days.

Middle East

In Fujairah, availability remains tight, with lead times for all grades steady at 5-7 days, unchanged from last week. Some suppliers can accommodate prompt stems, though these typically come at higher prices. Khor Fakkan has similar lead time recommendations for all grades.

In Basrah, Iraq, both VLSFO and LSMGO are readily available. However, supplies of both grades are nearly depleted in Ras Laffan, Qatar, and Suez, Egypt.

In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, LSMGO is sufficiently supplied, but VLSFO availability is limited. Djibouti faces severe supply constraints, with VLSFO and HSFO nearly exhausted and LSMGO also running low.

Omani ports, including Sohar, Salalah, Muscat, and Duqm, have ample LSMGO supply.

By Tuhin Roy

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 18 December, 2024

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Bunker Fuel

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (3 September 2026)

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

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Baltic Exchange logo

The following bunker report has been provided by freight market information provider Baltic Exchange for post on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (3 September 2026)
Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (3 September 2026)

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

Fujairah – Offshore Anchorage Area
Gibraltar – Anchorage area
Houston – Houston Harbor
Panama – (Pacific) dangerous cargo area, Balboa
Rotterdam – Waalhaven Maasvlakte range
Singapore – Anchorage, under SBA Scheme
Zhoushan – Southern anchorage area

Submitted weekly at Close of Business UK time Daily

Panellists:
Cockett Marine Oil Pte, Island Oil Limited, KPI OceanConnect, Monjasa A/S, NSI Marine and Transparensea Fuels

 

Photo credit and source: Baltic Exchange
Published: 4 September, 2026

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Bunker Fuel

ENGINE: Americas Fuel Availability Outlook (3 September 2026)

New York sees healthy bunker demand; availability improves in Los Angeles; VLSFO and LSMGO tight in Rio de Janeiro.

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RESIZED ENGINE Americas

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:

  • New York sees healthy bunker demand
  • Availability improves in Los Angeles
  • VLSFO and LSMGO tight in Rio de Janeiro

North America

In Houston, bunker demand has been strong over the past week, and prompt availability is bit tight across all three conventional grades.

HSFO and VLSFO require lead times of 5–7 days, and LSMGO can be delivered by most suppliers within 4–5 days, a trader said.

At the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA), operations are being conducted on a first-come, first-served basis and remain subject to weather conditions.

Recommended lead times for all three grades stand at 5–8 days at the anchorage this week.

Mobile Bay stands out this week, with visibility dropping as low as 1 nautical mile during high-risk periods recurring almost daily through 9 September. Elsewhere, sea fog risk along the US Gulf Coast is mostly low.

Moderate risk builds through midweek at Port Arthur, Lake Charles, Marsh Island, Port Fourchon, New Orleans and Venice, while Texas ports, Pascagoula and Tampa stay largely clear, bar a few brief moderate spells.

In New York, bunker demand has been good. HSFO and VLSFO are tight for prompt supply, with lead times of 6–8 days, and LSMGO is available within 3–5 days.

No backlog or bunker barge readiness issues have been reported. Weather conditions are forecast to remain calm and conducive for bunkering at the port, a source said.

The Atlantic hurricane season is currently ongoing, with three active hurricanes — Karina and Marie in the Eastern Pacific, and Lowell in the Central Pacific.

The National Hurricane Center has issued advisories on all three. Additional marine warnings are also in effect in the Eastern Pacific region.

On the US West Coast, fuel availability across all three conventional grades has improved since the past week, a trader said. At the port of Los Angeles and Long Beach, some suppliers can now deliver VLSFO and LSMGO in a week’s time, compared to last week’s 10 days, while HSFO lead times remain unchanged at 7 days.

Recently, the Port of Los Angeles approved a 30-year lease extension with Yusen Terminals, keeping the operator at the port through 2056, and adding a further $200 million investment in zero-emission equipment.

At Canada’s Vancouver, VLSFO has been a bit tight over the past week, with recommended lead times currently over 5 days, a source said. HSFO and LSMGO have good availability, with lead times of 5–7 days.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Bunker availability is good for HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO at Panama’s Balboa and Cristobal, and demand has picked up this week, a trader told ENGINE.

Suppliers are recommending lead times of 3–5 days for all three fuel grades.

In Brazil, HSFO is no longer available, and lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO vary across the country’s ports.

Santos is congested, but availability is normal for VLSFO and LSMGO, with recommended lead times of 5–8 days.

Availability is tight for both grades in Rio de Janeiro this week, and supply is only available under prior consultation, a source said.

Rio Grande is reporting no availability for LSMGO, and VLSFO is available and can be supplied by most suppliers within a week.

At Paranaguá, Belém and Vila do Conde, VLSFO and LSMGO have decent availability, with lead times ranging between 4–7 days.

Punta Colorada in Argentina is set for a step up in activity, with two floating LNG (FLNG) units due onstream there by the end of 2027.

The Hilli Episeyo, currently repositioning from Cameroon via Singapore, and the Esperanza, a converted LNG carrier, will together add just over 6 million tonnes of annual LNG production capacity once both are running, Antares Shipping Agency said.

Bunkering operations in Argentina’s Zona Comun are continuing, despite choppy conditions at the anchorage.

Strong winds are expected to persist through the week, with the potential to interrupt bunkering, if winds exceed above 20 knots. Supplies of VLSFO and LSMGO are normal, and delivery lead times are currently running at 5-7 days, a source said.

By Gautamee Hazarika

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 4 September, 2026

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Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Fuel Availability Outlook (2 Sep 2026)

Prompt fuel supplies are tight in the ARA; high cruise demand tightens availability in Piraeus; lead times of 5-7 days required in Durban.

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RESIZED ENGINE Europe and Africa

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 supplies are tight in the ARA
  • High cruise demand tightens availability in Piraeus
  • Lead times of 5-7 days required in Durban

Northwest Europe

Fuel availability is tight in the ARA for prompt delivery dates, with buyers advised lead times between 5-7 days for deliveries of HSFO, VLSFO, ULSFO and LSMGO fuel grades, a trader said.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have averaged 15% higher in August thus far, compared to July’s monthly average, according to Insights Global data.

The ARA hub has imported around 344,000 b/d of fuel oil in August thus far, more than double July’s monthly average of around 159,000 b/d, according to Vortexa cargo flows data. The largest volumes arrived from Benin (20%), Venezuela (15%) and Mexico (8%).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories – which include diesel and heating oil – have dropped by 1% in August so far, compared to July, according to the Insights Global data.

The region has imported around 156,000 b/d of gasoil in August thus far, up from an average of around 119,000 b/d imported in July, according to Vortexa data. A majority of shipments arrived from the US (36%), Sweden (12%) and the UK (10%).

Bunker fuel availability is stable in Germany’s Hamburg port, a trader told ENGINE. Buyers are recommended a notice of five days to get delivery of any fuel grade.

Fuel availability is tight off Denmark Skaw and in Sweden’s Gothenburg, with buyers advised lead times of 10-14 days for deliveries of any fuel grade, a trader said.

Mediterranean

Bunker availability is tight for prompt dates at ports in the Strait of Gibraltar, with buyers advised earliest delivery dates of around 10-12 days out to get good coverage, a trader told ENGINE.

Suppliers in Gibraltar are running 4-12 hours behind schedule on deliveries, according to port agent MH Bland. In Algeciras, suppliers are running between 6-24 hours delayed, the port agent added. In Spain’s Ceuta, some deliveries at barge could be delayed by 6-8 hours, MH Bland said.

In Barcelona, buyers should book supplies at least a week before deliveries, a trader told ENGINE.

Prompt fuel availability is tight in Las Palmas, with buyers recommended lead times of around 10-12 days, a trader told ENGINE.

VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries off Malta require between 3-4 days of notice while ULSFO deliveries require six days of lead time, according to a trader. Some suppliers are offering prompt deliveries as well, the trader added.

Fuel availability is tight in Greece’s Piraeus for prompt supplies due to increased demand from cruise vessels, with buyers recommended lead times of seven days for HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO, while ULSFO supplies need a 5-day notice, a trader said.

Prompt fuel availability is okay in Turkey’s Istanbul for most marine fuels, a local supplier told ENGINE. LSMGO and ULSFO deliveries need 1-3 days of notice, while VLSFO needs 2-4 days’ time, a trader said. HSFO availability is slightly tight for prompt supplies in Istanbul, with buyers advised 4-7 days of lead time, the trader added.

Africa

In Togo’s Lome and off Namibia’s Walvis Bay, fuel availability is tight for prompt supplies of VLSFO and LSMGO, with buyers recommended a week of notice for both fuel grades.

VLSFO is not available in Angola’s Luanda, a supplier told ENGINE. LSMGO availability is comparatively stable, and a notice of 3-4 days is sufficient for deliveries of the fuel grade, the supplier added.

In Nigeria’s Lagos anchorage, prompt fuel supplies are tight, and buyers are advised lead times of 5-10 days, a local supplier said.

In South Africa’s Durban, prompt fuel supplies of all three grades are tight, a trader said. Buyers are advised a week’s notice for any fuel grade.

Bunker availability is tight in Port Louis, with suppliers requiring notice of around 10-14 days, a trader said.

In the Mozambican ports of Nacala and Maputo, VLSFO supplies are tight and need lead times of a week, a trader told ENGINE.

By Nachiket Tekawade

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 3 September, 2026

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