Business

ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Indonesian ports unscathed after earthquake; still tight availability in Hong Kong; Zhoushan grapples with more weather disruptions.

Published

4 years ago

November 23, 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:

22 November 2022

Indonesian ports unscathed after earthquake
Still tight availability in Hong Kong
Zhoushan grapples with more weather disruptions

Singapore

Availability across all fuel grades remains tight in Singapore. Recommended lead times for VLSFO in the port are 9-11 days, while 7-10 days are required for HSFO.

The port’s residual fuel oil inventories have averaged 4% lower so far in November compared to October, despite a big increase in net imports, according to Enterprise Singapore.

HSFO cargoes have primarily arrived from Turkey so far this month, followed by Russia and Malaysia, going by Vortexa cargo tracking data.

Some suppliers have held back offers for HSFO in Singapore, which has contributed to keep its price elevated, a source says. Lead times of 7-10 days are recommended for HSFO in the port.

East Asia

Bunkering operations in Zhoushan’s outer port limits (OPL) might be suspended by bad weather from the evening of 22 November, according to White Whale Shipping Agency. Strong winds ranging between 19-27 knots are forecast to hit the port. OPL bunkering is likely to resume on 23 November’s evening, when calmer weather is forecast.

Availability of VLSFO remains steady in Zhoushan, with recommended lead times of five days. Lead times of seven days are required for HSFO in the port.

LSMGO remains extremely tight in Zhoushan as several suppliers have almost run out of stocks. Replenishment cargoes are due to arrive in the end of November, which is likely to alleviate the situation, a source says. Lead times for the grade are subject to enquiry currently.

Meanwhile, availability across all grades remains steady in South Korean ports, with recommended lead times of five days. Bunkering might be hampered by rough weather in southern South Korean ports including Busan and Yeosu between 23-24 November. Delivery of stems are subject to weather conditions currently, a source says.

Availability of prompt dates across all grades in Hong Kong remains tight, with lead times of 7-8 days. One supplier can accommodate shorter lead times for VLSFO, a source says.

In Indonesia, the effects of a 5.6-magnitude earthquake that hit the Cianjur region on Monday have mostly been felt in the western parts of Java, while suppliers continue to deliver stems in the ports of Jakarta, Surabaya and Balikpapan, a trader says.

South Asia

Several Indian ports, including Mumbai, Mundra and Kandla on the northwest coast, and Cochin and Chennai on the southern coast, have good availability of VLSFO with lead times of 2-3 days.

Meanwhile, VLSFO availability is subject to inquiry in Tuticorin.

Visakhapatnam and Haldia on India’s east coast have recommended lead times of 2-3 days for VLSFO. Suppliers in Paradip have almost run out of VLSFO.

One supplier can provide prompt dates for all the grades in the Sri Lankan port of Colombo.

Middle East

Fujairah’s suppliers have been grappling with low demand for VLSFO since the beginning of October. Less VLSFO sales contributed to pull down Fujairah’s total bunker sales by 2% in October, according to data compiled by Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) and S&P Global Commodity Insights.

Sources attributed lower demand to a lack of movement in bulk and container vessels.

VLSFO stems can be delivered in Fujairah in five days, while recommended lead times for LSMGO and HSFO are four days.

Very prompt deliveries (0-3 days) of VLSFO are available in the Omani port of Sohar. Prompt LSMGO is also available in Duqm and Sohar, and typically requires lead times of 2-3 days.

By Tuhin Roy

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 23 November, 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

1 day 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

1 day 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

1 day 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