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ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

HSFO380 contamination concerns in Singapore; Hong Kong demand on steady rise; Sri Lanka grapples with state of emergency and curfews.

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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:

12 April 2022

  • HSFO380 contamination concerns in Singapore
  • Hong Kong demand on steady rise
  • Sri Lanka grapples with state of emergency and curfews

Singapore

HSFO380 and VLSFO availability is “super tight” in Singapore and requires 12-15 days of lead time, while LSMGO is shorter at 5-6 days.

Some suppliers are avoiding HSFO380 offers due to increased testing requirements, sources say. VLSFO availability is tight amid low availability of blend stocks.

Fuel testing firm Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) latest findings suggest that a total of 140,000 mt of chloride-contaminated HSFO380 was delivered by two bunker suppliers via 12 barges in Singapore between February and March.

VPS strongly suggests GC−MS HS test to detect chloride contamination and warns the fuel remains in supply chain and could possibly be reused or re-blended for further use.

Meanwhile, Singapore’s residual fuel oil and middle distillate stockpiles have been drawn to yet new lows this year, according to Enterprise Singapore.

East Asia

In Hong Kong, bunker demand remains robust after authorities lifted quarantine rules for cargo and bunker-only calls last month, sources say. HSFO380 availability is tighter compared to VLSFO and LSMGO, which require 4-5 days of lead time.

Low sulphur fuel availability in Zhoushan is normal. Some suppliers can offer limited prompt deliveries for LSMGO and VLSFO grades. HSFO380 remains tight as only some supplier can offer the grade, sources say.

South Korea’s southern ports of Busan, Ulsan and Yeosu continue to see tight prompt availability. Suggested lead times for VLSFO in these ports range from 5-7 days, depending on the supplier. Prompt LSMGO supply has also tightened because of pressure on overall barge availability.

In Port Klang, some suppliers can offer limited volumes of VLSFO and LSMGO for prompt deliveries, sources say.

In Manila, LSMGO availability is normal. The earliest delivery date is on 19 April with one supplier as bunker schedules are already filling up beyond the Easter holiday.

South Asia

Colombo’s bunker operations continue to be affected by the state of emergency and curfews imposed by the Sri Lankan government amid protest over the county’s worsening economic crisis at the beginning of this month.

The Sri Lanka Port Authority has said that Colombo port operates normally despite the curfews, while acknowledging they have encountered unprecedented challenges.

VLSFO and LSMGO supply has tightened in Colombo, but some suppliers can offer prompt deliveries depending on barge schedules. A supplier expects LSMGO replenishment stocks to arrive by next week.

Suppliers in Colombo are planning and coordinating their deliveries way in advance to raise awareness of potential supply disruptions from external factors outside of their control.

In India, availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal in Mumbai and Visakhapatnam, and requires 2-4 days of lead time. In Mundra, LSMGO and VLSFO requires 5-6 days ahead, while HSFO380 is tighter and requires longer lead time.

Middle East

Availability is tight for all fuel grades in Fujairah. Lead times of around six days are recommended for VLSFO and LSMGO, and a longer eight days for HSFO380.

In Basra, bunker fuel availability is normal across all grades. A supplier can offer prompt deliveries for VLSFO and LSMGO, a source said.

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal in Duqm and Sohar port and requires 2-4 days of lead time, sources say.

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 13 April, 2022

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China: Chimbusco and BJEC enter green methanol cooperation agreement

Document was signed between Ding Lihai, deputy general manager of Chimbusco, and Li Jianjun, deputy general manager of BJEC.

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Chimbusco x BJEC MT

China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co.,Ltd. (Chimbusco) and POWERCHINA Beijing Engineering Corporation Limited (BJEC) on Thursday (3 July) formally entered into a green methanol strategic cooperation framework agreement.

The document was signed between Ding Lihai, deputy general manager of Chimbusco, and Li Jianjun, deputy general manager of BJEC.

BJEC, a subsidiary of China Power Engineering Group, is experienced in the survey, design, construction and technology research and development of large-scale renewable energy projects.

Moving forward, the two parties said they will respectively focus on their core advantages and work together to promote the production, supply, storage and refuelling of green methanol as an energy source to help support the low-carbon transformation of the shipping industry.

Ding Lihai said: “The shipping industry is one of the important sources of global carbon emissions. Promoting low-carbon fuel is the key to the transformation of the industry. As the main force in the supply of bunker fuel, Chimbusco has been committed to expanding its clean fuel supply capacity. The cooperation with BJEC will integrate the advantages of green energy development and fuel supply, accelerate the large-scale application of green methanol, and meet the needs of shipping companies for clean fuel. We look forward to providing effective solutions for the green transformation of the shipping industry through the joint efforts of both parties.”

Li Jianjun said: “Implementing the ‘dual carbon’ goal is an important responsibility of enterprises. BJEC has accumulated strong technical strength in the field of green energy. This cooperation with Chimbusco will focus on the entire industrial chain of green methanol, from raw materials, production to supply, to provide clean and sustainable fuel solutions for the shipping industry. The complementary advantages of both parties will promote the rapid development of the green methanol industry and inject strong impetus into the low-carbon transformation of the shipping industry.”

 

Photo credit: China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co.,Ltd.
Published: 8 July 2025

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Towngas and Royal Vopak collaborate to expand green methanol supply chain network

‘Towngas has recently completed a 6,000-tonne green methanol bunkering project, the largest in Asia,” said its Chief Operating Officer – Green Fuel and Chemicals.

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Towngas x Royal Vopak MT

Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) and Vopak China Management Co., Ltd. (Royal Vopak) on Tuesday (8 July) said both recently signed a strategic framework cooperation agreement to collaborate in areas such as green methanol production, storage, bunkering, and trading etc.

Focusing on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Asia-Pacific markets, both parties are joining forces to expand an efficient green methanol supply chain network and support the shipping industry’s low-carbon transition.

The two parties will capitalise on their respective strengths to expand the supply network of green methanol.

Towngas employs proprietary technology to convert agricultural and forestry waste as well as scrap tyres into green methanol, and has obtained multiple international certifications and provides a sufficient supply of green methanol for maritime fuel bunkering.

Royal Vopak provides green methanol storage and terminal services with its comprehensive storage and terminal infrastructure and coastal port network advantages.

Together, the two parties will achieve efficient resource allocation and ship green methanol to the Greater Bay Area, East China, South China, and the broader Asia-Pacific markets, further expanding the green methanol supply chain network.

Towngas and Royal Vopak will further develop multiple areas of regional cooperation, including in the Greater Bay Area. By leveraging the strengths of the ports in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, the partnership will focus on “production and storage synergy” as its core to strengthen cooperation around logistics and terminal facility construction, and to build an integrated green methanol storage and transportation network.

In East China, the two parties will centre their collaboration in Shanghai and Ningbo, two major international ports, to further strengthen cooperation in logistics storage and bunkering facility construction to meet the growing demand for green fuels at both ports.

In the Bohai Bay region, with Tianjin as the strategic hub, Towngas will transport green methanol produced at its northern China production base to Royal Vopak’s local storage tank farm, then achieve resource allocation through the Royal Vopak’s distribution network, supporting the supply of green methanol from northern China to the national and Asia-Pacific markets.

The two parties will also target key export markets, such as Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea, to accelerate overseas expansion and boost the market competitiveness of clean energy in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Towngas has recently completed a 6,000-tonne green methanol bunkering project, the largest in Asia,” said Sham Man-fai, Towngas Chief Operating Officer – Green Fuel and Chemicals.

“It was completed with the support of Royal Vopak’s Tianjin storage tank farm facilities, laying a solid foundation for this partnership.

“Towngas’s Inner Mongolia green methanol plant is set to increase its annual capacity from 100,000 tonnes to 150,000 tonnes by the end of this year, with plans to further expand to 300,000 tonnes by 2028. Together with Royal Vopak’s storage and terminal services infrastructure and coastal port network, the two parties will build a comprehensive green methanol supply chain network.”

 

Photo credit: Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
Published: 8 July 2025

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SEKAVIN starts new physical supply operations in the port of Istanbul and Izmit Bay

Operation is supported by three marine refuelling barges; namely Tarabya-E, Beykoz- E, and Kalamis-E.

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SEKAVIN BARGE

Piraeus-based bunkering firm SEKAVIN on Monday (7 July) said it has recently started new physical supply operations in the port of Istanbul and Izmit Bay.

The operation is supported by three marine refuelling barges; namely Tarabya-E, Beykoz- E, and Kalamis-E. The bunkering vessels have successfully completed numerous deliveries to seagoing vessels.

According to SEKAVIN, Istanbul represents one of the world’s most strategic and challenging maritime environments. The country sees more than 43,000 annual Bosphorus passages and delivers roughly 2 million metric tons per year in bunkers to receiving ships.

In a statement to Manifold Times, John Tsogas, Global Head of Bunkering at SEKAVIN, noted his company intends to offer partners “a very reliable and flexible service” covering the Northeast Med with Istanbul.

The development is in combination with the bunkering firm’s current physical operations in Syros port, together with their traditional Piraeus physical operations which have been carried out for almost 50 years.

Related: SEKAVIN and GCL to strengthen marine fuel supply and logistics in key bunkering hubs

 

Photo credit: SEKAVIN
Published: 8 July 2025

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