Business

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.

Published

4 years ago

April 13, 2022

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:

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

Legal

Singapore withdraws remaining 127 charges against Hin Leong founder OK Lim

Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges on 17 July.

Published

17 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Founder of collapsed oil trader Hin Leong Trading, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, has had the remaining 127 charges against him withdrawn, according to The Straits Times on Monday (20 July).

OK Lim was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges, including those for cheating, on 17 July. The discharge means Lim cannot be prosecuted again for the same offences.

Lim, 84, is currently serving a 13½-year prison sentence after the High Court reduced his original 17½-year jail term in March 2026. He was convicted in 2024 on two cheating charges and one count of abetting forgery in a case prosecutors described as one of Singapore’s most serious trade finance frauds.

Lim was convicted in May 2024 of two charges of cheating the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and one count of abetting forgery that proceeded to trial out of a total of 130 criminal charges.

He was first charged in court on 14 August 2020, and was subsequently handed further charges in court on 25 September 2020, 30 April 2021 and 24 June 2021 for his role in perpetuating fraud on various financial institutions.

A total of 130 charges were eventually brought against him for cheating and forgery-related offences.

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Coastal Logistics was reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Published

18 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Several resolutions for Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary general meeting held on 14 July, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (4 July).

The following resolutions were duly passed during the meeting:

As Special Resolution

That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and accordingly the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018);

As Ordinary Resolutions

that Mr. Wong Pheng Cheong Martin and Ms. Koay May Yee, both care of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, One Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583 be appointed as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up; and
that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit; and
that a Committee of Inspection will not be formed.

Manifold Times previously reported Nicholas James Gronow, director of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping and Coastal Logistics, filed statutory declarations for both companies stating the firms cannot continue their businesses due to liabilities.

Both companies were reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

In 2019, several vessels owned by both firms entered the sale & purchase (S&P) market in Singapore.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Published

18 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post.

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026