Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (3 Dec 2024)

Availability is tight across all grades in Singapore; LSMGO supply is good in Zhoushan port; VLSFO and LSMGO availability is tight in several Indian ports.

Published

1 month ago

December 4, 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:

Availability is tight across all grades in Singapore
LSMGO supply is good in Zhoushan port
VLSFO and LSMGO availability is tight in several Indian ports

Singapore and Malaysia

Despite low demand, the availability of all grades is tight for prompt dates in Singapore, according to a source. Most suppliers are recommending lead times of about 10 days for VLSFO. Some can accommodate stems with shorter lead times, but these are typically priced higher compared to those for dates further out.

Recommended lead times for HSFO are around 2-6 days and 1-5 days for LSMGO.

At Malaysia's Port Klang, VLSFO and LSMGO supplies are good, although HSFO availability remains relatively tight.

East Asia

In Zhoushan, fuel availability remains steady, with several suppliers advising lead times of 5-7 days for VLSFO and HSFO, and 3-5 days for LSMGO. Some suppliers can arrange prompt deliveries for smaller VLSFO stems.

VLSFO and LSMGO supplies are abundant at Dalian and Qingdao ports in Northern China, although HSFO availability is tight in Qingdao. Tianjin is facing limited supply across all fuel grades.

In Shanghai, LSMGO is readily available, but VLSFO and HSFO are scarce. Prompt availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is also tight in Yangpu and Guangzhou.

Fuzhou has good availability of VLSFO and LSMGO, while Xiamen has ample VLSFO supply but limited LSMGO.

All three grades are tight for prompt dates in Hong Kong. Lead times of seven days are recommended for all grades.

VLSFO and LSMGO are readily available in the Taiwanese ports of Hualien, Kaohsiung, and Keelung, with lead times of about two days, consistent with last week. Lead times for both grades are around 3-4 days in Taichung.

Bunker demand in South Korean ports remains subdued due to higher bunker prices.

Availability remains tight across South Korean ports, with most suppliers recommending lead times of 6-8 days for all grades. Bunkering operations might be suspended in the South Korean ports of Ulsan, Onsan, Busan, Yeosu, and Daesan between 3-8 December due to rough weather conditions.

LSMGO supply remains robust across key Japanese ports including Tokyo, Chiba, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Osaka, Kobe, Sakai, Nagoya, Yokkaichi, Mizushima, and Oita. VLSFO availability is steady, though prompt deliveries are limited in Oita. Meanwhile, prompt HSFO supply is said to be tight in Nagoya, Yokkaichi, Mizushima, and Oita, according to a source.

Bad weather may disrupt bunkering in the Philippine port of Subic Bay on 9 December.

Similarly, adverse weather is expected to impact bunkering at the Vietnamese port of Ho Chi Minh from 7-9 December.

Oceania

VLSFO and LSMGO are available at the western Australian ports of Kwinana, Fremantle, and Kembla, with lead times of around 7-8 days. In New South Wales’ Sydney port, LSMGO supplies are adequate, but HSFO may require longer lead times.

In Victoria, both Melbourne and Geelong have good VLSFO and LSMGO supply, though prompt HSFO deliveries are tight. Queensland’s Brisbane and Gladstone ports have sufficient VLSFO and LSMGO with lead times of 7-8 days, but HSFO availability in Brisbane remains tight.

In New Zealand, Tauranga and Auckland both have good supplies of VLSFO, with Auckland also having ample LSMGO stocks. Adverse weather is expected in Tauranga between 4 and 8 December, which can cause bunkering disruptions.

South Asia

VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains tight at several Indian ports, including Mumbai, Tuticorin, and Chennai, as it has been in recent weeks. Supply of both grades is subject to availability in Visakhapatnam and Haldia, while Kandla and Cochin have good stock.

Adverse weather conditions in the port of Visakhapatnam could disrupt bunker operations during the week.

Sri Lanka’s Colombo port has good availability for all bunker grades. Lead times of three days are recommended by a supplier there.

Middle East

Prompt availability for VLSFO and LSMGO remains tight in Fujairah, with lead times of 5-7 days recommended for both grades. Similarly, suppliers in Khor Fakkan are recommending lead times of 5-7 days for all grades.

Saudi Arabia's Jeddah port has a good LSMGO supply, but VLSFO is tight. Djibouti has LSMGO shortages. Omani ports, including Sohar, Salalah, Muscat, and Duqm have adequate LSMGO supply available to cater to prompt demand.

By Aparupa Mazumder

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 4 December, 2024

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LNG Bunkering

ENGINE on LNG Bunker Snapshot: Rotterdam’s price inches up on higher bunker premiums

Rotterdam’s LNG bunker price has risen on higher bunker premiums, while Singapore’s price has been steady amid subdued demand in the broader Asian LNG market.

Published

21 hours ago

January 14, 2025

Admin

ENGINE on LNG Bunker Snapshot: Rotterdam’s price inches up on higher bunker premiums

Once a week, bunker intelligence platform ENGINE will publish a snapshot of LNG bunker prices in the world’s two biggest bunkering hubs. The following is the latest snapshot:

Rotterdam’s LNG bunker price has risen on higher bunker premiums, while Singapore’s price has been steady amid subdued demand in the broader Asian LNG market.

Changes in weekly LNG bunker prices:

Rotterdam up by $15/mt to $863/mt
Singapore up by $6/mt to $870/mt

Rotterdam

Rotterdam's LNG bunker price has risen by $15/mt over the past week, reaching $863/mt. This increase was mainly driven by a surge in LNG bunker premiums, which more than doubled from around $70/mt to $145/mt during this period.

Cold weather in Europe and high gas withdrawal rates have also added upward pressure on LNG prices. The gas withdrawal rate refers to the speed at which natural gas is extracted from storage to meet demand.

“Cold weather has been driving up heating demand and gas withdrawal rates have been faster than expected. EU storage has now dropped below 70% capacity, which is a bit below average for the time of year and far below the 85% we had heading into 2024,” said Emma Richards, associate director of oil and gas at research firm BMI.

Gas prices were also supported by an outage caused by a compressor failure at Equinor's Hammerfest LNG plant in northern Norway, which processes gas from the Snøhvit natural gas field.

“Snøhvit’s restart date was extended by 10 days to 19 January compared to the initial estimated restart date of 10 January, following a trip on 2 January. This may provide support for prices,” noted energy research firm Rystad Energy.

Meanwhile, the front-month Dutch TTF Natural Gas contract, a key European gas market benchmark, dropped by $1.16/MMBtu ($60/mt) to $13.81/MMBtu ($718/mt) during the same period.

Singapore

Singapore’s LNG bunker price has remained broadly stable in the past week, amid tepid demand in the overall Asian LNG market.

LNG bunker prices in the region are generally linked to NYMEX Japan/Korea Marker (JKM) values. The front-month JKM contract fell by $0.20/MMBtu ($10/mt) to $14.16/MMBtu ($736/mt) during the same period.

“Fundamentals remain weak in Asia with limited purchase interests stemming from China and South Korea, while some buyers such as CPC Corporation, Thailand's PTT, Bangladesh’s RPGCL and northeast Japanese power utility Tohoku Electric were seeking spot LNG for February and March delivery,” Rystad Energy said.

Going forward, Japanese LNG demand could get a boost from planned maintenances at two nuclear power plants in Takahama and Ohi.

“However, buying interests from Japanese importers remain limited as major importers have bought in advance,” Rystad said.

By Tuhin Roy

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 14 January, 2025

Bunker Fuel

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (December 2024)

Country sold about 1.59 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in the month, with daily sales at 51,332 mt, a dip of 1.25% from a month earlier, JLC’s data shows.

Published

2 days ago

January 13, 2025

Admin

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (December 2024)

Beijing-based commodity market information provider JLC Network Technology Co. recently shared its JLC China Bunker monthly report for December 2024 with Manifold Times through an exclusive arrangement:

China’s daily bonded bunker fuel sales slip in December

China’s daily bonded bunker fuel sales slipped in December, as domestic LSFO supply tightened.

The country sold about 1.59 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in the month, with daily sales at 51,332 mt, a dip of 1.25% from a month earlier, JLC’s data shows. (Note: The volume of China’s November bonded bunker fuel sales has been revised to 1.56 million mt, up from 1.52 million mt stated in the report for November, with Chimubusco’s sales up from 320,000 mt to 360,000 mt.)

Bonded bunker fuel sales by Chimbusco, Sinopec (Zhoushan), SinoBunker and China Changjiang Bunker (Sinopec) settled at 450,000 mt, 500,000 mt, 40,000 mt and 15,000 mt in the month, while those by suppliers with regional bunkering licenses settled at 586,300 mt.

Overall bunkering demand was relatively stable in the month, but domestic refiners continued to cut their LSFO production amid tight quotas, resulting in a decline in daily bonded bunker fuel sales.

China’s bonded bunker fuel exports surge in November

China’s bonded bunker fuel exports surged in November, as bunker suppliers were making efforts to boost sales, also because of more re-export trade activities.

The country exported about 1.82 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in the month, with the daily exports at 60,643 mt, up by 46.57% month on month and 32.97% year on year, JLC calculated, with reference to data from the General Administration of Customs of PRC (GACC).

In breakdown, heavy bunker fuel exports climbed to about 1.71 million mt, accounting for 93.77% of the total exports, while light bunker fuel exports amounted to 113,300 mt, occupying 6.23%.

Despite a further drop in domestic LSFO output, bonded distributors exported more bonded bunker fuel in the month, in a bid to achieve their annual sales targets and lower their inventories. Meanwhile, bonded distributors saw more arrivals of imported LSFO cargoes, and they sold more bonded bunker fuel in the form of re-export trade, which also drove up the exports.

China tallied a total of 18.19 million mt of bonded bunker fuel exports in January-November, with the daily exports at 54,309 mt, inching up by 0.39% from the same months in 2023, JLC estimates, based on the GACC data. Specifically, heavy bunker fuel exports settled at 16.99 million mt in the eleven months, accounting for 93.37% of the total, while light bunker fuel exports settled at 1.21 million mt, making up 6.63%.

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (December 2024)

Domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel demand strengthens in December

Domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel demand strengthened in December.

Domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel demand amounted to 400,000 mt in December, rising by 20,000 mt or 5.26% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Shipowners just made purchases to meet rigid demand in the first half of the month when domestic bunker fuel prices rose. However, they engaged in more transactions in the second half as prices retreated and their restocking demand increased amid the approach of the Spring Festival.

On the flip side, domestic light bunker fuel demand dropped to 140,000 mt in the month, down by 10,000 mt or 6.67% from the prior month.

Market sentiment was bearish on diesel demand, attributable to lower operating rates at infrastructure construction and other outdoor projects amid falling temperatures.

Bunker Fuel Supply

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports hit 44-month high

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports soared significantly in November, hitting a 44-month high, as domestic LSFO supply tightened amid insufficient export quotas.

China imported 915,200 mt of bonded bunker fuel in the month, the highest level since March 2021, JLC calculated, with reference to data from the GACC. The imports jumped by 35.50% from the previous month and 70.46% from a year earlier.

Domestic refiners continued to cut their LSFO output as they had run short of export quotas. As a result, bonded dealers had to import more bonded bunker fuel to fill the demand gap. These refiners produced about 466,000 mt of LSFO in November, with the daily output at 15,533 mt, plunging by 38.87% month on month and 41.58% year on year, JLC’s data shows.

While LSFO imports grew, imports of bonded HSFO and MGO were still basically stable in November.

Malaysia was still the largest bonded bunker fuel supplier to China in November, shipping 472,200 mt of bonded bunker fuel to China, which accounted for 51.60% of China’s total imports. Meanwhile, Singapore and South Korea remained in the second and third place with 262,100 mt and 112,000 mt, accounting for 28.64% and 12.23%, respectively. Peru came in fourth with 86,900 mt, occupying 7.53%.

China imported a total of 4.95 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in January-November, skyrocketing by 29.33% from the corresponding months in 2023, versus a rise of 22.61% in January-October.

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (December 2024)

Blenders raise heavy bunker fuel supply in December

Chinese blenders raised their heavy bunker fuel supply in December, as downstream restocking increased amid the approach of the Chinese New Year holiday, though supply of some blendstock such as shale oil and light coal tar was relatively tight.

These blenders supplied about 430,000 mt of domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel in the month, a boost of 30,000 mt or 7.5% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

On the contrary, domestic-trade light bunker fuel supply tightened amid weaker diesel demand and refineries’ lower operating rates. Domestic-trade MGO supply shrank to 160,000 mt in December, down by 20,000 mt or 11.11% from a month earlier, the data indicates.

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (December 2024)

BunkerPrices,Profits

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (December 2024)

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JLC Network Technology Co., Ltd is recognised as the leading information provider in China. We specialise in providing the transparent, high-value, authoritative market intelligence and professional analysis in commodity market. Our expertise covers oil, gas, coal, chemical, plastic, rubber, fertilizer and metal industry, etc.

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report is published by JLC Network Technology Co., Ltd every month on China bunker market, demand, supply, margin, freight index, forecast and so on. The report provides full-scale & concise insight into China bunker oil market.

Note: China-based commodity market information provider JLC Technology has been providing Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times China bunker volume data since 2020. Data from earlier periods are available here.

Photo credit: JLC Network Technology
Published: 13 January, 2024

Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (9 Jan 2025)

Fog season impacting US Gulf Coast bunkering; prompt availability improves in West Coast ports; rough weather causing delays in New York.

Published

5 days ago

January 10, 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:

Fog season impacting US Gulf Coast bunkering
Prompt availability improves in West Coast ports
Rough weather causing delays in New York

North America

Bunker fuel availability in Houston remains tight across all grades, according to a source. High winds over the last few days have created some backlogs by delaying bunker deliveries in the port.

Deliveries can remain suspended due to high wind gusts until 10 January, a source said. Suppliers generally require lead times of 7-9 days for VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries in Houston, while HSFO could take more than nine days.

Dense fog and reduced visibility around the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) have disrupted bunker deliveries. “Prolonged delays are expected over the next several days due to high winds [around GOLA],” a source said.

The New Orleans Outer Anchorage (NOLA) also faces fog-related disruptions, similar to GOLA. Fog conditions in the anchorage area depend heavily on wind directions. Southerly winds from the Gulf typically result in fog, while colder, northerly winds keep visibility clear.

On the West Coast, prompt bunker availability has improved in Los Angeles and Long Beach in January, with suppliers recommending lead times of seven days for VLSFO and LSMGO.

On the East Coast, availability for VLSFO and LSMGO is good in New York, but bunkering operations may be suspended this week due to rough weather, causing potential delays, a source said. Standby tugs may be required at certain times, the source added.

High wind gusts could suspend bunker deliveries in Canada’s Montreal.

Caribbean and Latin America

Demand remains strong in the Panamanian ports of Balboa and Cristobal, amid tight availability across all grades. Suppliers require lead times of more than seven days to secure stems.

The Colombian ports of Santa Marta, Barranquilla and Cartagena have seen more demand in recent days, tightening availability. December and January are the months with the highest demand, a source remarked.

Bunker operations at Argentina’s Zona Común anchorage may face some disruptions due to rough weather and strong wind gusts. Prompt VLSFO availability is tight at the anchorage, with lead times of at least seven days advised, a source said.

By Aparupa Mazumder

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 10 January, 2024