Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (22 Apr 2025)

HSFO availability is tight in Zhoushan; bunker demand is low in South Korean ports; availability improves in Sri Lankan ports.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 23, 2025

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:

HSFO availability is tight in Zhoushan
Bunker demand is low in South Korean ports
Availability improves in Sri Lankan ports

Singapore and Malaysia

In Singapore, VLSFO lead times currently vary significantly, ranging from 6-18 days. This is a notable shift from last week, when most suppliers recommended lead times of 8-12 days. HSFO lead times have also widened, now at 7-11 days compared to the previous 5-9 days. LSMGO availability remains stable, with recommended lead times holding steady at 6-8 days.

Singapore’s residual fuel oil inventories have averaged 17% higher so far in April compared to March, according to Enterprise Singapore. Fuel oil stocks have risen above 22 million bbls—marking the highest level recorded this year. The increase is supported by a 12% rise in net fuel oil imports this month, with imports growing by 680,000 bbls, far surpassing the 171,000-bbl increase in exports. In contrast, middle distillate inventories in Singapore have averaged 7% lower in April than in March.

At Malaysia’s Port Klang, both VLSFO and LSMGO remain readily available, with prompt delivery possible for smaller volumes. However, HSFO continues to face limited availability.

East Asia

Lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO in Zhoushan have increased from last week’s 4–6 days to 5–7 days currently. HSFO supply has tightened considerably despite weak demand, as several suppliers face low stock levels. As a result, HSFO lead times have been pushed back to the end of April, compared to the previous 4–6 days.

Adverse weather has led to a suspension of bunker deliveries at Zhoushan’s Tiaozhoumen and Xiazhimen outer anchorages since Saturday. However, operations resumed on Monday at the more sheltered Xiushandong anchorage and Mazhi’s inner anchorage. Several suppliers expect full resumption of bunkering in the OPL area by Wednesday.

In northern China, Dalian and Qingdao have healthy stocks of VLSFO and LSMGO, though HSFO remains limited in Qingdao. Tianjin continues to face tight supply for both VLSFO and HSFO, while LSMGO availability is stable.

Shanghai is also experiencing pressure on VLSFO and HSFO availability, but LSMGO remains readily accessible. Further south, Fuzhou maintains strong supply of both VLSFO and LSMGO. Xiamen has good VLSFO availability, though LSMGO supply is limited. Prompt deliveries of both VLSFO and LSMGO remain challenging in Yangpu and Guangzhou.

In Hong Kong, lead times for all fuel grades remain steady at around seven days, consistent with recent weeks. However, rough weather forecasted for 25–26 April may disrupt bunkering operations.

In Taiwan, VLSFO and LSMGO supplies remain steady at Hualien, Keelung, Kaohsiung and Taichung, with lead times unchanged from last week at around two days.

Fuel availability across all grades remains stable at several South Korean ports amid “slow” demand. Lead times are largely unchanged, ranging from 3-7 days.

However, bunker operations are likely to be disrupted by high waves and strong winds in Ulsan and Onsan between 22–27 April, and in Busan, Daesan, Taean, and Yeosu from 22–28 April.

Prompt VLSFO supply remains tight across multiple Japanese ports, including Tokyo, Chiba, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Osaka, Kobe, Sakai, Nagoya, Yokkaichi, and Mizushima.

LSMGO availability is generally stable, though securing prompt deliveries can be challenging in Osaka, Kobe, Sakai, Nagoya, Yokkaichi, and Mizushima. HSFO supply is similarly constrained at many ports. In Oita, availability for all fuel grades is offered only upon enquiry.

Rough weather may disrupt bunker deliveries in Koh Sichang and Leam Chabang, Thailand, on 24 April.

Oceania

In Western Australia, VLSFO and LSMGO supplies remain strong in Kwinana, Fremantle, and Kembla, with recommended lead times of 7–8 days. In New South Wales, Sydney has ample LSMGO availability, but prompt HSFO deliveries continue to be challenging.

Victoria’s ports – Melbourne and Geelong – report robust stocks of both VLSFO and LSMGO, though prompt HSFO remains hard to secure. Similarly, Queensland’s Brisbane and Gladstone maintain sufficient supplies of VLSFO and LSMGO with 7–8 day lead times, while HSFO availability in Brisbane is limited.

In New Zealand, Tauranga and Auckland have adequate VLSFO stocks. However, bunker operations in Tauranga may face intermittent disruptions on 23 and 28 April due to adverse weather conditions.

South Asia

Adverse weather is forecast to disrupt bunker deliveries in Kandla between 23–26 April, in Sikka on 24 and 26 April, and in Visakhapatnam from 23–26 April.

Meanwhile, fuel availability has improved across all grades in Sri Lanka, with recommended lead times reduced to around four days – down from approximately eight days last week.

Middle East

In Fujairah, prompt availability remains tight despite subdued demand, with lead times for all fuel grades holding steady at 5–7 days, unchanged from last week. Suppliers in Khor Fakkan report similar lead times.

In Jeddah, VLSFO supply remains limited, while LSMGO is readily available. Bunker supply in Djibouti is under strain, with both VLSFO and LSMGO in short supply.

Bunker deliveries at Egypt’s Port Said could be impacted by bad weather on 23 April.

At Omani ports—Sohar, Salalah, Muscat, and Duqm—LSMGO availability remains robust.

By Tuhin Roy

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 23 April, 2025

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Vitol launches VLSO and MGO bunker fuel deliveries by barge in West Africa

Latest expansion means that Vitol Bunkers now serves customers in locations across Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, Middle East and North America.

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22 hours ago

May 19, 2025

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Marine fuel supplier Vitol Bunkers on Friday (16 May) said it has started supplying bunkers by barge to the West Africa (WAF) region.

The company said it has started with initial deliveries of Very Low Sulphur Fuel (VLSFO) and Marine Gasoil (MGO) and plans to expand its offering to the full spectrum of marine fuels.

“Bunkering by barge offers flexibility of location, taking place wherever there is a need, including Dakar and offshore Lomé,” it said in a statement.

The latest expansion means that Vitol Bunkers now serves customers in locations across Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America.

Ammar Hussaini, Vitol Bunkers, said: “Supplying bunkers by barge to the WAF market allows us to support our customers flexibly in the location and with the fuels that they need.”

Photo credit: Vitol
Published: 19 May, 2025

Bunker Fuel

Tigonic launches physical bunker fuel supply operations by barge at Khorfakkan

Move enhances Tigonic’s regional supply capabilities with barge-based delivery of VLSFO and MGO along the vital East Coast of UAE; company also supplies bunker fuel at port of Sharjah by trucks.

Published

4 days ago

May 16, 2025

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Tigonic launches physical bunker fuel supply operations by barge at Khorfakkan

Dubai-based energy trading and bunker supply firm Tigonic on Thursday (15 May) said it has launched its physical bunker supply operations at Khorfakkan, UAE by barge and has completed its first successful deliveries of bunker fuel in the past few days.

The company said the move enhances Tigonic’s regional supply capabilities with barge-based delivery of Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) and Marine Gas Oil (MGO) along the vital East Coast of the UAE.

Tigonic also supplies bunker fuel at the port of Sharjah in UAE by trucks and may expand into other ports in the region in the foreseeable future.

Tigonic’s operational expansion into physical supply with its dedicated bunker barge enables the company to deliver marine fuels directly at anchorage.

“This launch marks a significant milestone in our service evolution,” said the team at Tigonic.

“With physical supply now live at Khorfakkan, we are elevating our ability to provide fast, flexible, and reliable marine fuel solutions to the global fleet.”

This expansion follows Tigonic’s recent achievement—the successful lifting of multiple cargoes of High-Sulfur Fuel Oil (HSFO) from the SASREF refinery in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, and fuel oil of Bahrain origin for their customers in the Singapore Straits.

Photo credit: Tigonic
Published: 16 May, 2025

Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (15 May 2025)

HSFO supply tight in Houston and Balboa; Los Angeles import volumes set to recover; Panama Canal drought threat persists.

Published

4 days ago

May 16, 2025

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:

HSFO supply tight in Houston and Balboa
Los Angeles import volumes set to recover
Panama Canal drought threat persists

North America

Bunker demand in Houston has been slow at the start of May. VLSFO and LSMGO are available for prompt delivery with recommended lead times of 5-7 days.

HSFO availability is currently tight in the port and requires lead times of at least a week.

Bunker operations were suspended in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) on Wednesday, with deliveries being conducted on a first come, first serve basis.

“Delays are expected until tomorrow. Supply ships will deliver when conditions allow, but deliveries stop if seas rise above 5 feet,” a source about GOLA.

In New York, fuel availability across all grades remains okay. Suppliers recommend lead times of 3-5 days, down from last week’s 5-7 days. Possible disruptions from high winds are expected in the port between 17-19 May, which can delay bunker barge operations.

Bunker One has introduced three additional fuel grades in New York: B30-HSFO and B30-LSMGO biofuel blends and pure HSFO. The B30 blends contain 30% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) or hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) biofuels blended with HSFO or LSMGO. The fuels will be sold on ISO 8217:2017 specifications and are ISCC EU-certified.

On the West Coast, fuel availability remains good, with suppliers recommending lead times of less than a week.

Incoming shipping traffic has picked up slightly, but it can vary from day to day, a source said.

“Following the pause, there was a slight pickup in East Coast volumes, but the West Coast hasn’t been the busiest, but safe to say remains steady,” a trader noted.

The Port of Los Angeles, which has experienced a slump in incoming container shipments over the past month, is expected to recover following the 90-day tariff pause between the US and China.

According to Port Optimizer, import volumes in Los Angeles are projected to rise to 103,000 TEUs next week, up from 85,000 TEUs this week, with 22 vessels scheduled to call. This would make a 22% increase week-on-week, and a 57% bump compared to the same period last year.

Peter Sand, chief analyst at Xeneta, said, “The new tariffs will affect around $18 billion in annual imports, …but if China responds in the same way as 2018 then we could be at the start of another spiral of escalating tariffs. That will mean yet more pain for shippers and ocean freight service providers to deal with.”

Montreal is bracing for possible disruptions from high wind gusts between 17-19 May. There is already a bunker backlog in the port and barge operations are limited to daylight hours.

Caribbean and Latin America

In Panama, availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is good and recommended lead times are around 5–6 days. HSFO is tight in Balboa and requires a longer lead time.

“Demand in the market overall remains quiet and priority is given to vessels with confirmed transit schedules through the Panama Canal,” a source said.

Panama’s bunker fuel sales fell to seven-month lows in April, with total sales dropping to 459,000 mt – down 40,000 mt from March. VLSFO and HSFO sales declined by 11% and 2%, respectively, while LSMGO sales rose by a minimal amount.

Xeneta’s Peter Sand highlighted major events affecting the container shipping market, including the conflict in the Red Sea and drought conditions in the Panama Canal.

In 2023, the Panama Canal experienced its worst drought in over a century, driven by a combination of a strong El Niño effect and climate change. Officials warn that without long-term solutions like the planned Rio Indio reservoir, the canal remains vulnerable to future droughts and climate pressures.

Freeport in the Bahamas is experiencing stable weather. Deliveries at the anchorage continue with cruise ships being given priority.

St. Eustatius and Trinidad are also operating under normal conditions, with no major weather disruptions, and bunker deliveries are proceeding as usual.

In Zona Comun, high wind gusts are expected over the weekend, which may trigger a bunker delivery suspension if winds exceed 20 knots. VLSFO remains tight availability at the anchorage, with recommended lead times of 12–14 days.

Low reservoir levels in Brazil and Argentina, along with weak river inflows, are keeping conditions dry in the Paraguay river, whose water levels are lower than usual for this time of year.

“Rainfall has been intense in spots but highly erratic – no sub-basin has seen a stable or normal pattern,” Antares Ship Agents noted. This is affecting all upriver ports along the Paraná River, including San Lorenzo, Rosario, Arroyo Seco, Villa Constitución, San Nicolás, Ramallo and San Pedro.

“Bunkering isn’t affected for now, since it takes place in Zona Común, which is in the tidal area where the draft is stable and things are quiet now,” a local supplier said.

By Gautamee Hazarika

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 16 May 2025