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ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (7 May)

Bunker demand remains average in Singapore; prompt supply tight in Zhoushan; steady VLSFO and LSMGO supply in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah.

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RESIZED ENGINE East of Suez

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:

  • Bunker demand remains average in Singapore
  • Prompt supply tight in Zhoushan
  • Steady VLSFO and LSMGO supply in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah

Singapore and Malaysia

Despite average demand, prompt VLSFO availability remains tight in Singapore. Several suppliers are now suggesting lead times of 6-12 days, slightly down from last week’s 7-13 days.

HSFO supply has tightened in the port. Most suppliers recommend lead times of up to 16 days, but some can accommodate stems within eight days in the port. These lead times are longer than the week prior, when traders recommended lead times of 8-11 days. LSMGO is more readily available, with lead times of 2-9 days.

Residual fuel oil stocks in Singapore averaged 5% lower in April than in March, data from Enterprise Singapore shows.

In Malaysia’s Port Klang, VLSFO and LSMGO grades remain readily available, with some suppliers offering prompt deliveries for smaller parcel sizes. HSFO remains tight in the port due to limited supply.

China, East Asia, and Oceania

All grades remain tight for prompt supply in Zhoushan, with suppliers recommending lead times of 5-7 days, unchanged from last week. Suppliers in Zhoushan are struggling with limited barge availability, a source says. Barge schedules are mostly tight for the remaining days of this month, another source says.

Northern China’s Dalian port has ample VLSFO and LSMGO available. Both grades are also promptly available in Qingdao and Tianjin, while HSFO supply remains tight in both ports. In Shanghai, VLSFO and LSMGO availability have improved, while HSFO remains tight. In Fuzhou and Yangpu, VLSFO and LSMGO are easily available. In Guangzhou, prompt availability for low-sulphur fuel grades remains limited. VLSFO availability has tightened in Xiamen, while LSMGO supply remains normal.

VLSFO and LSMGO are readily available in the Taiwanese ports of Hualien, Kaohsiung, Taichung and Keelung, with recommended lead times of 2-3 days, virtually unchanged from last week.

In Hong Kong, all bunker fuel grades are available, with lead times of seven days generally recommended by suppliers there.

In South Korean ports, lead times for all grades have ranged between 3-9 days.

There are weather warnings for strong wind and high waves, which could impact bunkering in southern South Korean ports such as Busan, Ulsan and Onsan until Sunday. Western South Korean ports, including Daesan and Taean, might also face bunkering disruptions this week due to high waves and strong wind gusts.

In Western Australia, both Kwinana and Fremantle ports can readily offer VLSFO and LSMGO, with recommended lead times of 7-8 days. In New South Wales, LSMGO is readily available in Sydney, while HSFO availability is subject to inquiry. In Victoria, VLSFO and LSMGO are easily available in Melbourne, while ample VLSFO supply is available in Geelong. Prompt HSFO supply can be tight in both ports.

In Queensland, both Brisbane and Gladstone ports have sufficient VLSFO and LSMGO stocks, with suggested lead times of 7-8 days. HSFO availability remains limited in Brisbane.

In the ports of Tauranga and Auckland in New Zealand, LSMGO availability is good, and VLSFO supply is also ample in Auckland. Tauranga may face possible disruptions due to the bad weather forecast on 10 May.

South Asia

VLSFO and LSMGO availability has been tight in several Indian ports, including Mumbai, Kandla, Tuticorin, Chennai, Cochin, Visakhapatnam and Haldia, as most suppliers are facing supply shortages, a source says. In Paradip, located on the eastern coast of India, one supplier has nearly run out of both grades.

Middle East

Bunker demand for all grades remains low in the UAE port of Fujairah. However, prompt availability remains tight for all grades, with suppliers projecting lead times of 7-10 days.

In the UAE port of Khor Fakkan, most suppliers are recommending similar lead times of 7-10 days.

At Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah port, VLSFO and LSMGO supply has been sufficient. Meanwhile, in Djibouti, certain suppliers are experiencing shortages of VLSFO, while LSMGO supply remains normal.

By Aparupa Mazumder

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 8 May 2024

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Bunker Fuel

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales soar by 7.5% on year in June 2025

4.59 million mt of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in June, up from 4.27 million mt recorded during the similar month in 2024, according to MPA.

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Singapore: Bunker fuel sales soar by 7.5% on year in June 2025

Sales of marine fuel at Singapore port increased by 7.5% on year in June 2025, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) data.

In total, 4.59 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,594,700 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in June, up from 4.27 million mt (4,274,900 mt) recorded during the similar month in 2024.

Deliveries of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in June (against on year) recorded respectively 1.70 million mt (+8.6% from 1.56 million mt), 2.31 million mt (-7.2% from 2.33 million mt), 1,900 mt (from zero), 4,500 mt (-88% from 8,000 mt) and zero (from zero).

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales soar by 7.5% on year in June 2025

Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in June (against on year) recorded respectively 38,800 mt (+671.7% from 2,500 mt), 114,300 mt (+97.9% from 45,400 mt), zero (from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from zero). B100 biofuel bunkers, introduced in February this year, recorded 1,000 mt of deliveries in June.

LNG and methanol sales were respectively 55,400 mt (-7.8% from 51,700) and zero (from zero mt). There were no recorded sales of ammonia for the month and so far in 2025.

Related: Singapore: Bunker sales volume raises to year record high of 4.88 million mt in May
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 4% on year in April 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 0.5% on year in March 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 8.1% on year in February 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 9.1% on year in January 2025

A complete series of articles on Singapore bunker volumes reported by Manifold Times tracked since 2018 can be found via the link here.

 

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 15 July 2025

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Alternative Fuels

ITOCHU orders world’s first ammonia bunkering vessel for Singapore demonstration project

Company contracted Sasaki Shipbuilding to build the 5,000 m3 vessel and Izumi Steel Works to construct an ammonia tank plant that will be loaded onto the vessel, which is expected to be delivered in 2027.

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ITOCHU orders world’s first ammonia bunkering vessel for Singapore demonstration project

ITOCHU Corporation (ITOCHU) on Monday (14 July) announced that it recently signed a shipbuilding contract for the construction of a 5,000 m3 ammonia bunkering vessel with Sasaki Shipbuilding. 

The company also announced an agreement regarding the construction of an ammonia tank plant that will be loaded onto the vessel with Izumi Steel Works. 

These agreements were signed by Clean Ammonia Bunkering Shipping Pte Ltd (CABS), a wholly owned Singapore-based specific purpose company of ITOCHU. 

In relation to this, CABS has concluded a financing agreement with The Hiroshima Bank for financing a part of purchase price of the vessel.

The agreements were concluded to pursue the Demonstration Project for Bunkering Ammonia as Marine Fuel in Singapore adopted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan as part of the Global South Future-oriented Co-Creation Project (large-scale demonstration in ASEAN member states). 

Going forward, with an eye toward the demonstration of ammonia bunkering in Singapore after building the world’s first newbuilding ammonia bunkering vessel, ITOCHU said efforts will be made to facilitate concrete discussions with the maritime stakeholders, including the port authority in Singapore, the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), and the fuel producers, while obtaining support from the Japanese Government.

The vessel is to be flagged under the Singapore Registry and is expected to be delivered in September 2027.

ITOCHU will establish a safe offshore bunkering operation of ammonia as marine fuel by way of ship-to-ship transfer through the development and construction of the vessel and demonstration. 

Then, by utilising the vessel, ITOCHU will establish connection between the first movers in clean ammonia production and the first movers in the ammonia-fueled vessels and secure initial demand for ammonia as marine fuel, aiming at the commercialisation of ammonia bunkering business in Singapore and expansion of similar business model to major maritime transportation points around the world, including Spain (Strait of Gibraltar), Egypt (Suez Canal) and Japan.

 

Photo credit: ITOCHU Corporation
Published: 15 July 2025

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Business

S@S Week 2025: Singapore conducts chemical spill exercise to gear up for methanol bunkering

Exercise simulated a methanol spill from a collision involving a methanol-carrying tanker off Singapore’s southern coast, triggering a multi-agency response which included spill containment.

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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Tuesday (15 July) conducted a multi-agency chemical spill exercise to strengthen Singapore’s operational readiness, as part of the International Safety@Sea (S@S) Week. 

MPA is organising the 12th edition of the S@S Week, with this year’s event being the international edition, taking place from 15 to 18 July 2025. 

Conducted off Singapore’s southern coast, the exercise involved 11 vessels and over 150 personnel from more than 10 government agencies and industry partners. Mr Murali, Mr Dominguez and Secretary-General, International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation, Mr Francis Zachariae, observed the exercise.

The exercise simulated a methanol spill from a collision involving a methanol-carrying tanker, triggering a multi-agency response. This included coordinated efforts for spill containment and the evacuation of injured crew. A range of drone-enabled technologies was trialled during the exercise, including 3D imaging to assess vessel damage and a water curtain misting system to limit the spread of chemical plumes. An Uncrewed Surface Vehicle was also deployed to monitor air quality, reducing the need for responders to enter hazardous zones to perform such monitoring. The Maritime Digital Twin and chemical plume modelling tools were used to enhance situational awareness and support decision-making throughout the exercise.

The exercise is part of MPA’s broader preparations for methanol bunkering and provided a valuable opportunity for agencies and industry partners to better understand the safety and operational challenges, and potential solutions, in handling alternative fuels. Following an open call in March 2025, MPA has received 13 applications for methanol bunker supplier licenses, reflecting strong industry interest in supplying methanol on a commercial scale in Singapore. MPA is evaluating the applications and targets to issue the licenses in Q4 2025, which will cover the period from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030. 

Themed ‘The Future of Maritime Safety: Navigating the Next Frontier’, the annual event brings together local and international maritime experts, and the maritime community to promote awareness and facilitate discussions on maritime safety. 

Speaking at the opening today, Mr Murali Pillai, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport, said that the maritime sector is facing increasingly complex global challenges, including heightened geopolitical tensions, climate change, and rapid transformation in digitalisation and decarbonisation. He highlighted that we can tackle these challenges by (i) equipping our workforce for future challenges, (ii) harnessing collective expertise through close collaborations and partnerships, and (iii) drawing upon technology and innovation to augment our capabilities. 

In his keynote address, Mr Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), underscored the need for robust safety frameworks and regulations as the maritime landscape evolves. He cited Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships and new ship designs and systems using sustainable marine fuels as examples of how the maritime sector is transforming and outlined IMO’s priorities in those areas. Mr Dominguez also highlighted the importance of government-industry collaboration and initiatives like the Safety@Sea Singapore Campaign to foster a safety-first culture at sea.  

This year’s conference features 19 speakers across three plenaries. Discussions will focus on issues shaping the future of maritime safety, including lessons learned from past incidents, and the human element in ensuring safety as the industry transforms. A new Safety@Sea Community Conversations event will also bring together representatives from shipping companies, regional ferry operators, harbour craft operators and terminal operators to share their experiences and efforts in fostering a safety culture in their organisations. 

Over 1,800 participants from more than 40 countries are expected to participate in the week’s sessions. Other highlights include the Responders Plus Programme (RPP) Maritime Workshop jointly organised by MPA and the Singapore Civil Defence Force, and two safety forums organised by the MPA-Harbour Craft and MPA-Pleasure Craft Safety Work Groups to promote safety awareness and best practices within the local maritime community. 

MPA is also enhancing safety across other areas of port operations. In collaboration with Skyports Drone Services, TFG Marine and CBS Ventures, MPA and the partners will complete Singapore’s first shore-to-ship drone trials for delivery and retrieval operations from bunker tankers later this week. 

The use of drones reduces reliance on harbour craft for such operations, improving efficiency while reducing pollution and congestion. 

It also minimises safety risks by removing the need for crew to handle and transfer heavy items between the ship and shore using harbour craft. Safety considerations, including the management of electrostatic discharge risks during the drone operations, are carefully reviewed in preparation for the trials. 

Findings from these trials will inform the development of safety protocols and an operational framework to support the phased implementation of this new maritime service.

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 15 July 2025

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