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Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (7 Oct 2025)

Bunker demand low in Singapore; several South Korean ports brace for Typhoon Halong-induced bad weather; VLSFO and LSMGO availability good in Oceanic ports.
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11 months ago

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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 low in Singapore
  • Several South Korean ports brace for Typhoon Halong-induced bad weather
  • VLSFO and LSMGO availability good in Oceanic ports

Singapore and Malaysia

Despite “slow” bunker demand in Singapore, VLSFO availability has tightened, with lead times increasing from 7–10 days last week, to 8–14 days now. HSFO and LSMGO require lead times of around 6–10 days, compared to last week’s 8–10 days and 4–8 days, respectively.

The port’s residual fuel oil stocks averaged 2% lower in September than in August, though inventories stayed above 24 million bbls, according to Enterprise Singapore. This came despite a 13% drop in net fuel oil imports, with imports falling by 919,000 bbls and exports down by 437,000 bbls. In contrast, Singapore’s middle distillate stocks rose, averaging 4% higher in September compared with August.

At Malaysia’s Port Klang, both VLSFO and LSMGO are readily available, with prompt deliveries possible for smaller parcels, while HSFO supply continues to be tight.

East Asia

Bunker demand in Zhoushan remains weak, with recommended lead times of around 10–12 days across all fuel grades.

Although overall fuel availability is reported as normal, demand across Chinese ports is expected to stay subdued this week due to the ongoing Golden Week holidays (1–8 October). Most suppliers are only handling pre-booked stems, and new bookings for delivery before 10 October are currently not being accepted, according to a source.

In Hong Kong, lead times remain steady at about seven days for all fuel types.

Taiwan’s bunker market is stable, with VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries typically arranged within three days at Keelung, Hualien, Taichung, and Kaohsiung — largely unchanged from last week.

In South Korea, bunker availability has improved amid sluggish demand during the country’s seven-day Golden Holiday (3–9 October).

Lead times of around 3–7 days are currently recommended across all grades, according to a source. Last week, HSFO and LSMGO required 9–10 days for delivery at both western and southern ports, while VLSFO supply remained subject to enquiries.

However, supply schedules remain vulnerable to disruptions from Typhoon Halong, which has brought bad weather across the region. Bunker operations may face interruptions in Busan and Ulsan between 7–11 October, in Yeosu from 9–13 October, and in Daesan on 9 October and again between 12–14 October.

In Japan, prompt VLSFO supply continues to be tight at key ports including Tokyo, Chiba, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Osaka, Kobe, Sakai, Mizushima, Nagoya, and Yokkaichi.

LSMGO is generally well supplied nationwide, though prompt deliveries in Mizushima may still encounter delays. B24-VLSFO remains available only upon enquiry at Tokyo, Chiba, Kawasaki, and Yokohama. HSFO availability is steady across most ports, but Oita is facing shortages of all grades — VLSFO, LSMGO, and HSFO.

Typhoon Halong, currently located over the Pacific south of Japan and moving west-northwest, is expected to strengthen further and approach Japan’s Izu Islands by Thursday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The resulting adverse weather could further disrupt bunker operations at certain Japanese ports.

Oceania

In Western Australia, VLSFO and LSMGO are readily available at Kwinana and Fremantle, with most suppliers quoting lead times of around seven days. Deliveries are mainly conducted by barge from a single supplier, while LSMGO can also be supplied by truck. Afternoon strong winds can occasionally disrupt bunkering operations, a source said.

In New South Wales, Port Kembla offers VLSFO supply via both truck and pipeline, with a minimum pipeline delivery volume of 70 mt and smaller parcels available by truck. In Sydney, one barge operates alongside truck and pipeline options at select berths, though barge schedules are sometimes affected by naval activity and cruise liner movements. VLSFO and LSMGO are generally well stocked, while HSFO supply can be limited. Lead times of around seven days are preferred across all grades.

In Queensland, VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains good at Brisbane and Gladstone, both maintaining lead times of about seven days. HSFO in Brisbane is only available on request, while Gladstone can face occasional weather-related delays. Berth access at Brisbane’s AAT terminal can also be challenging. The port now operates two barges, each run by separate suppliers, both offering VLSFO and LSMGO, with HSFO supplied on enquiry.

Victoria’s ports of Melbourne and Geelong maintain good stocks of VLSFO and LSMGO, though HSFO availability is tighter, particularly for prompt deliveries. At present, HSFO is well stocked in Melbourne. A single barge serves both ports, with Bass Strait weather occasionally affecting operations. A seven-day lead time is generally recommended. LSMGO can also be delivered by truck at smaller regional ports such as Portland and Port Welshpool, where typical lead times are 2–3 days.

Overall, Australian ports are maintaining stable bunker supply, with a general recommendation of seven days’ lead time — though most ports can usually deliver within 3–4 days thanks to healthy availability. Ports with pipeline systems, such as Darwin and Dampier, often rely partly on truck support, which can affect consistency of supply.

In New Zealand, bunker operations are stable, with VLSFO readily available at Tauranga and Auckland. Tauranga also provides pipeline access at certain berths, while Marsden Point can supply both VLSFO and LSMGO via pipeline at jetties where vessels are engaged in cargo operations.

The cyclone season in northern Australia, running from 1 November to 30 April, is expected to periodically disrupt bunkering activity, the source added.

South Asia

Severe Cyclonic Storm Shakhti, which brought heavy rainfall to western India, is expected to weaken gradually by the end of the day. Sea conditions, however, are forecast to remain rough to very rough along the Gujarat–North Maharashtra coastline. Coastal districts in Gujarat — including Dwarka, Jamnagar, and Surat — may continue to experience heavy rainfall during this period.

Although warning signals have been raised, port operations across the region are reported to be running normally, with no stoppages so far, according to GAC Hot Port News.

In Sri Lanka, bunker supply remains steady in Colombo and Hambantota, with one supplier now quoting lead times of around five days for all grades — slightly longer than the prompt availability seen last week.

Middle East

Prompt bunker supply remains tight in Fujairah across all grades, with recommended lead times of 5–7 days — a situation also seen at the nearby port of Khor Fakkan. In Iraq’s Basrah, VLSFO and LSMGO are readily available, though HSFO supply remains constrained.

Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah continues to face limited availability of both VLSFO and LSMGO, while Egypt’s Port Suez is grappling with severe shortages, with stocks of VLSFO, LSMGO, and HSFO nearly depleted. In Qatar’s Ras Laffan, suppliers are also struggling with tight VLSFO and LSMGO availability.

Djibouti is experiencing acute scarcity, with VLSFO and HSFO supplies almost exhausted and LSMGO running low. In contrast, Oman’s ports — including Sohar, Salalah, Muscat, and Duqm — continue to report stable LSMGO availability.

By Tuhin Roy

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 8 October, 2025

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Bunker Fuel

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (3 September 2026)

Bunker report panellists include Island Oil Limited, Cockett Marine Oil Pte, Monjasa A/S, KPI OceanConnect, NSI Marine and Transparensea Fuels.
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Published

18 hours ago

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September 4, 2026

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Baltic Exchange logo

The following bunker report has been provided by freight market information provider Baltic Exchange for post on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (3 September 2026) Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (3 September 2026)

All values are in US$/metric ton, all-in (invoice price), delivered on board
Delivery in 7-10 days
ISO 8217:2010
IFO 380 3.5% Sulphur
IFO 380 0.5% Sulphur
DMA 0.1% Sulphur

Fujairah – Offshore Anchorage Area
Gibraltar – Anchorage area
Houston – Houston Harbor
Panama – (Pacific) dangerous cargo area, Balboa
Rotterdam – Waalhaven Maasvlakte range
Singapore – Anchorage, under SBA Scheme
Zhoushan – Southern anchorage area

Submitted weekly at Close of Business UK time Daily

Panellists:
Cockett Marine Oil Pte, Island Oil Limited, KPI OceanConnect, Monjasa A/S, NSI Marine and Transparensea Fuels

 

Photo credit and source: Baltic Exchange
Published: 4 September, 2026

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Bunker Fuel

ENGINE: Americas Fuel Availability Outlook (3 September 2026)

New York sees healthy bunker demand; availability improves in Los Angeles; VLSFO and LSMGO tight in Rio de Janeiro.
Admin

Published

18 hours ago

on

September 4, 2026

By

RESIZED ENGINE Americas

The following article regarding bunker fuel availability in the Americas region has been provided by online marine fuel procurement platform ENGINE for post on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

  • New York sees healthy bunker demand
  • Availability improves in Los Angeles
  • VLSFO and LSMGO tight in Rio de Janeiro

North America

In Houston, bunker demand has been strong over the past week, and prompt availability is bit tight across all three conventional grades.

HSFO and VLSFO require lead times of 5–7 days, and LSMGO can be delivered by most suppliers within 4–5 days, a trader said.

At the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA), operations are being conducted on a first-come, first-served basis and remain subject to weather conditions.

Recommended lead times for all three grades stand at 5–8 days at the anchorage this week.

Mobile Bay stands out this week, with visibility dropping as low as 1 nautical mile during high-risk periods recurring almost daily through 9 September. Elsewhere, sea fog risk along the US Gulf Coast is mostly low.

Moderate risk builds through midweek at Port Arthur, Lake Charles, Marsh Island, Port Fourchon, New Orleans and Venice, while Texas ports, Pascagoula and Tampa stay largely clear, bar a few brief moderate spells.

In New York, bunker demand has been good. HSFO and VLSFO are tight for prompt supply, with lead times of 6–8 days, and LSMGO is available within 3–5 days.

No backlog or bunker barge readiness issues have been reported. Weather conditions are forecast to remain calm and conducive for bunkering at the port, a source said.

The Atlantic hurricane season is currently ongoing, with three active hurricanes — Karina and Marie in the Eastern Pacific, and Lowell in the Central Pacific.

The National Hurricane Center has issued advisories on all three. Additional marine warnings are also in effect in the Eastern Pacific region.

On the US West Coast, fuel availability across all three conventional grades has improved since the past week, a trader said. At the port of Los Angeles and Long Beach, some suppliers can now deliver VLSFO and LSMGO in a week’s time, compared to last week’s 10 days, while HSFO lead times remain unchanged at 7 days.

Recently, the Port of Los Angeles approved a 30-year lease extension with Yusen Terminals, keeping the operator at the port through 2056, and adding a further $200 million investment in zero-emission equipment.

At Canada’s Vancouver, VLSFO has been a bit tight over the past week, with recommended lead times currently over 5 days, a source said. HSFO and LSMGO have good availability, with lead times of 5–7 days.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Bunker availability is good for HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO at Panama’s Balboa and Cristobal, and demand has picked up this week, a trader told ENGINE.

Suppliers are recommending lead times of 3–5 days for all three fuel grades.

In Brazil, HSFO is no longer available, and lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO vary across the country’s ports.

Santos is congested, but availability is normal for VLSFO and LSMGO, with recommended lead times of 5–8 days.

Availability is tight for both grades in Rio de Janeiro this week, and supply is only available under prior consultation, a source said.

Rio Grande is reporting no availability for LSMGO, and VLSFO is available and can be supplied by most suppliers within a week.

At Paranaguá, Belém and Vila do Conde, VLSFO and LSMGO have decent availability, with lead times ranging between 4–7 days.

Punta Colorada in Argentina is set for a step up in activity, with two floating LNG (FLNG) units due onstream there by the end of 2027.

The Hilli Episeyo, currently repositioning from Cameroon via Singapore, and the Esperanza, a converted LNG carrier, will together add just over 6 million tonnes of annual LNG production capacity once both are running, Antares Shipping Agency said.

Bunkering operations in Argentina’s Zona Comun are continuing, despite choppy conditions at the anchorage.

Strong winds are expected to persist through the week, with the potential to interrupt bunkering, if winds exceed above 20 knots. Supplies of VLSFO and LSMGO are normal, and delivery lead times are currently running at 5-7 days, a source said.

By Gautamee Hazarika

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 4 September, 2026

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Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Fuel Availability Outlook (2 Sep 2026)

Prompt fuel supplies are tight in the ARA; high cruise demand tightens availability in Piraeus; lead times of 5-7 days required in Durban.
Admin

Published

2 days ago

on

September 3, 2026

By

RESIZED ENGINE Europe and Africa

The following article regarding Europe and Africa bunker fuel availability has been provided by online marine fuel procurement platform ENGINE for post on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

  • Prompt fuel supplies are tight in the ARA
  • High cruise demand tightens availability in Piraeus
  • Lead times of 5-7 days required in Durban

Northwest Europe

Fuel availability is tight in the ARA for prompt delivery dates, with buyers advised lead times between 5-7 days for deliveries of HSFO, VLSFO, ULSFO and LSMGO fuel grades, a trader said.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have averaged 15% higher in August thus far, compared to July’s monthly average, according to Insights Global data.

The ARA hub has imported around 344,000 b/d of fuel oil in August thus far, more than double July’s monthly average of around 159,000 b/d, according to Vortexa cargo flows data. The largest volumes arrived from Benin (20%), Venezuela (15%) and Mexico (8%).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories – which include diesel and heating oil – have dropped by 1% in August so far, compared to July, according to the Insights Global data.

The region has imported around 156,000 b/d of gasoil in August thus far, up from an average of around 119,000 b/d imported in July, according to Vortexa data. A majority of shipments arrived from the US (36%), Sweden (12%) and the UK (10%).

Bunker fuel availability is stable in Germany’s Hamburg port, a trader told ENGINE. Buyers are recommended a notice of five days to get delivery of any fuel grade.

Fuel availability is tight off Denmark Skaw and in Sweden’s Gothenburg, with buyers advised lead times of 10-14 days for deliveries of any fuel grade, a trader said.

Mediterranean

Bunker availability is tight for prompt dates at ports in the Strait of Gibraltar, with buyers advised earliest delivery dates of around 10-12 days out to get good coverage, a trader told ENGINE.

Suppliers in Gibraltar are running 4-12 hours behind schedule on deliveries, according to port agent MH Bland. In Algeciras, suppliers are running between 6-24 hours delayed, the port agent added. In Spain’s Ceuta, some deliveries at barge could be delayed by 6-8 hours, MH Bland said.

In Barcelona, buyers should book supplies at least a week before deliveries, a trader told ENGINE.

Prompt fuel availability is tight in Las Palmas, with buyers recommended lead times of around 10-12 days, a trader told ENGINE.

VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries off Malta require between 3-4 days of notice while ULSFO deliveries require six days of lead time, according to a trader. Some suppliers are offering prompt deliveries as well, the trader added.

Fuel availability is tight in Greece’s Piraeus for prompt supplies due to increased demand from cruise vessels, with buyers recommended lead times of seven days for HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO, while ULSFO supplies need a 5-day notice, a trader said.

Prompt fuel availability is okay in Turkey’s Istanbul for most marine fuels, a local supplier told ENGINE. LSMGO and ULSFO deliveries need 1-3 days of notice, while VLSFO needs 2-4 days’ time, a trader said. HSFO availability is slightly tight for prompt supplies in Istanbul, with buyers advised 4-7 days of lead time, the trader added.

Africa

In Togo’s Lome and off Namibia’s Walvis Bay, fuel availability is tight for prompt supplies of VLSFO and LSMGO, with buyers recommended a week of notice for both fuel grades.

VLSFO is not available in Angola’s Luanda, a supplier told ENGINE. LSMGO availability is comparatively stable, and a notice of 3-4 days is sufficient for deliveries of the fuel grade, the supplier added.

In Nigeria’s Lagos anchorage, prompt fuel supplies are tight, and buyers are advised lead times of 5-10 days, a local supplier said.

In South Africa’s Durban, prompt fuel supplies of all three grades are tight, a trader said. Buyers are advised a week’s notice for any fuel grade.

Bunker availability is tight in Port Louis, with suppliers requiring notice of around 10-14 days, a trader said.

In the Mozambican ports of Nacala and Maputo, VLSFO supplies are tight and need lead times of a week, a trader told ENGINE.

By Nachiket Tekawade

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 3 September, 2026

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