Business

ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Prompt HSFO tight in Fujairah and Singapore; Singapore port authority mulls additional fuel quality tests;
Availability normal in Hong Kong and Zhoushan.

Published

4 years ago

April 20, 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:

19 April 2022

Prompt HSFO tight in Fujairah and Singapore
Singapore port authority mulls additional fuel quality tests
Availability normal in Hong Kong and Zhoushan

Singapore

HSFO380 and VLSFO availability is “super tight” in Singapore and requires 10-12 days of lead time, while LSMGO is more readily available with 3-4 days ahead recommended.

Some suppliers remain hesitant to offer HSFO380 in Singapore following mass organic chloride contamination and requests from buyers for more elaborate fuel screening. A few suppliers can offer the grade in limited quantities for deliveries from 1 May.

An investigation by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) found that around 200 ships have bunkered HSFO380 contaminated with organic chlorides in Singapore.

The MPA said last week that it is considering implementing additional quality tests in Singapore to screen for “unacceptable chemicals” and is in discussions with industry players about this.

Singapore’s fuel oil inventories have fell by 4% in the week to 13 April, while those of middle distillates grew by 8%, according to Enterprise Singapore data.

Fuel oil was drawn out of storage despite a 18% weekly increase in net fuel oil imports. Fuel oil cargoes mostly arrived in Singapore from the US, Malaysia and Brazil, while departing for Malaysia, China, Bangladesh, Fujairah and Guam, according to Vortexa cargo data.

Gasoil mostly arrived from South Korea and China.

East Asia

Hong Kong has seen bunker demand pick up over the past few weeks, after the lifting of quarantine rules, sources say. Availability is normal across all grades and requires 5-6 days of lead time. Some suppliers can offer prompter deliveries of VLSFO.

Bunker operations resumed in Zhoushan on Saturday after weather-triggered suspensions last week. Congestion is reported minimal, sources say. Availability is normal for VLSFO and LSMGO in Zhoushan, some suppliers can offer prompt deliveries. HSFO380 availability is tighter and requires 6-7 days of lead time.

Availability is slightly tight in South Korean ports. VLSFO and LSMGO grades require 5-10 days of lead time, sources say. Demand remains roughly steady.

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

South Asia

In Colombo, prompt deliveries for LSMGO and VLSFO are difficult due to the tight barge schedules and require 8-9 days of lead time, sources say.

Bunker fuel availability remains normal at India’s Mumbai port. Some suppliers can offer prompt deliveries for VLSFO and LSMGO, sources say. In Mundra, HSFO380 and VLSFO availability is normal and requires 5-6 days of lead time, while LSMGO is not available, sources say.

Availability in Visakhapatnam is normal for VLSFO and LSMGO, a supplier can offer prompt deliveries.

Middle East

Availability is tight for all fuel grades in Fujairah. Lead times of around 6-7 days are recommended for VLSFO and LSMGO, and a longer 10 days for HSFO380.

Suppliers in Fujairah are hesitant to offer smaller stem sizes and are picking and choosing deals, a source said. Barge delivery schedules have come under pressure, contributing to tighten supply.

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

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 20 April, 2022

Legal

Shell Singapore charged over Pulau Bukom oil leaks, reporting delays

Shell faces four charges under Singapore’s Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act over two 2024 oil discharge incidents at its Pulau Bukom facility.

Published

13 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Admin

2 MPA craft (left) supporting Shell craft in the clean up operations of the oil sheens taken on 28 Dec 9am

Shell Singapore has been charged over two incidents in 2024 involving oily mixtures discharged into Singapore waters from its facilities at Pulau Bukom, according to media reports on Tuesday (22 September).

The company faces four charges under the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act, including allegations that it failed to report the discharges to the port master immediately.

The first incident occurred on 20 October 2024, when approximately 40 metric tonnes (mt) of oily mixture was discharged through a hole in a pipeline at the Shell Singapore Energy and Chemicals Park at about 8am.

Shell is accused of reporting the incident to the port master at about 12.55pm, several hours after the discharge occurred.

The second incident took place between 26 and 28 December 2024. An estimated 485kg to 956kg of oil mixture was discharged into Singapore waters from the same facility.

Shell is accused of failing to report the incident immediately, with notification to the port master made at about 11.50am on 26 December 2024, according to the charges.

Singapore’s pollution-prevention regulations require occupiers of such facilities to report oil or oily-mixture discharges into Singapore waters “without delay and to the fullest extent possible”.

Shell’s representative requested an eight-week adjournment at the 22 September hearing, citing the need to obtain internal instructions, appoint counsel and locate historical records. The company said the business associated with the incidents had been divested in 2025.

The case was adjourned to October. Shell is also facing prosecution by Singapore’s National Environment Agency over the same incidents.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 25 September, 2026

Incident

MPA probes Singapore Strait collision involving fishing vessel, bulk carrier

MPA says there were no reported injuries among the crew of either vessel in the incident involving China-registered fishing vessel “Lu Qing Yuan Yu” and Panama-registered bulk carrier “First Margaux” .

Published

13 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Admin

Panama-registered bulk carrier “First Margaux”

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Tuesday (22 September) said it is investigating the incident involving the China-registered fishing vessel Lu Qing Yuan Yu and the Panama-registered bulk carrier First Margaux in the Singapore Strait on 17 September.

MPA said there were no reported injuries among the crew of either vessel or pollution arising from the incident and navigational traffic was not affected.

Videos circulating on social media showed the bulk carrier colliding with the fishing vessel.

“The fishing vessel took on water during the incident but remained afloat and stable, with the crew taking measures to manage the situation onboard,” MPA said.

The vessel was subsequently towed to Raffles Reserved Anchorage for assessment.

Essential crew remained onboard to support the tow, while the Singapore Civil Defence Force supported the transfer of other crew to shore.

MPA added it also issued navigational safety broadcasts to keep other vessels clear of the tow and escorted the vessel into port with a MPA craft.

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Arnold Pohen
Published: 25 September, 2026

Mass Flowmeter

TFG Marine deploys first MFM-equipped bunker barge in Jamaica

Bunker barge “Kingston Trader” is currently on its way to Jamaica following the successful installation of a Coriolis mass flow meter (MFM) system, certified to ISO 22192.

Published

13 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Admin

TFG Marine deploys first MFM-equipped bunker barge in Jamaica

Global marine fuel supply and procurement firm TFG Marine on Thursday (24 September) said its bunker barge Kingston Trader is currently on its way to Jamaica following the successful installation of a Coriolis mass flow meter (MFM) system, certified to ISO 22192.

The company said the latest installation brings the proportion of TFG Marine’s fleet equipped with MFMs to approximately 88%, marking another step in the continued rollout of this technology across its global bunkering operations.

“The barge will operate in Jamaica through our local partnership with Scott Petroleum, becoming the first bunkering vessel in the region equipped with this technology and bringing greater accuracy, transparency and assurance to fuel measurement for customers across the Caribbean,” TFG Marine said in a social media post.

“Together with Scott Petroleum, we look forward to working collaboratively with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, the The Port Authority of Jamaica, Petrojam Limited and other stakeholders to share our experience of MFM technology, explore its wider benefits and support the continued development of bunkering standards across the region.”

Manifold Times previously reported TFG Marine continuing to expand MFM technology across its US Gulf Coast bunker fleet with Buffalo B414 and Buffalo B304 being fitted with the equipment.

Last year, TFG Marine announced it reached a key milestone in its global digitalisation programme with the installation of an ISO 22192-compliant MFM on the Buffalo 404, a barge on time charter from American bunker barge company Buffalo Marine Service Inc.

The installation was part of TFG Marine’s wider strategy to equip close to 90% of its global bunkering fleet with MFMs by 2026 as a commitment towards improving data integrity, streamlining operations and strengthening trust in marine fuel transactions.

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 25 September, 2026