Connect with us

Business

ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

VLSFO remains very tight in Singapore; availability of all grades good in Hong Kong; demand improving in Fujairah.

Admin

Published

on

ENGINE East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

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:

  • VLSFO remains very tight in Singapore
  • Availability of all grades good in Hong Kong
  • Demand improving in Fujairah

 

Singapore

Steady demand for VLSFO in Singapore coupled with limited supply has contributed to tighten the grade’s availability in the port. Recommended lead times now stretch to around two weeks.

Recommended lead times for LSMGO, on the other hand, have come down from 10-12 days last week to 4-5 days now. Availability of HSFO remains tight, with lead times stretching to 9-13 days.

Singapore’s residual fuel oil stocks have remained steady with prior-month levels in December, despite a 7% decline in fuel oil imports, according to Enterprise Singapore. Fuel oil exports have risen by 14% so far this month, and the port’s net imports have dropped.

Meanwhile, middle distillate stocks in Singapore have averaged 2% lower so far in December than in November.

 

East Asia

Bunker operations had resumed at all four anchorages of Zhoushan by Tuesday morning, following weather-suspensions since Thursday last week, according to White Whale Shipping Agency.

Lead times of 3-5 days are recommended for VLSFO in Zhoushan. The Chinese bunkering hub has been witnessing an uptick in demand this week compared to the last week, a source says.

Availability of LSMGO has been getting tighter in Zhoushan as several suppliers are out of stocks and replenishment cargoes have been delayed until 19 December, a source says. LSMGO availability is subject to enquiry now.

HSFO is still tight in Zhoushan, with availability subject to enquiry, as most suppliers are sold out.

Availability of VLSFO remains steady in Hong Kong with lead times of around seven days. Demand for the grade remains good in Hong Kong’s bunker market, a source says.

Meanwhile, availability of VLSFO is getting very tight in South Korean ports as most suppliers are out of stocks. Recommended lead times for VLSFO in these ports are almost two weeks ahead in time now. Replenishment cargoes are expected to arrive towards the end of December, which is likely to alleviate the situation, a source says. Some suppliers can offer prompt deliveries of the grade, but these are usually at premiums.

Recommended lead times for LSMGO in South Korean ports are around 10 days, and about 9-10 days are needed for HSFO.

Weather-related disruptions may impact bunker operations in the South Korean ports of Ulsan, Onsan, Daesan, Taean and Yeosu in the coming week, a source says.

 

South Asia

VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains normal in India’s Mumbai, with lead times of around two days. HSFO is subject to barge availability, which is more limited than for the low sulphur grades.

Prompt delivery dates are available for both VLSFO and LSMGO in Mundra on India’s northwest coast. Lead times are short for both grades, at 1-2 days.

Availability across all grades remains good in the Sri Lankan port of Colombo, with short lead times of four days.

 

Middle East

Fujairah has been experiencing a demand surge since late last week as tightness in the VLSFO market has triggered some panic buying. Some sources argue that a slowdown in VLSFO production from a major refinery has contributed to the tightness of the grade.

Recommended lead times in the UAE port are 7-9 days, but some suppliers can supply prompter stems that are typically priced higher.

LSMGO in Fujairah requires lead times of around nine days, and about nine days are needed for HSFO.

Availability of prompt dates for both VLSFO and LSMGO remains good in Oman’s Sohar. Meanwhile, Duqm has almost run out of VLSFO.

By Tuhin Roy

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 14 December, 2022

Continue Reading

Technology

Singapore: Ofiniti, ONE trial direct platform integration to streamline bunker workflows

Ofiniti started a trial in Singapore, integrating FuelBoss directly with a bunker buyer’s own platform, with Ocean Network Express as its first buyer-side integration partner.

Admin

Published

on

By

Singapore: Ofiniti, ONE trial direct platform integration to streamline bunker workflows

Ofiniti, the digital platform for maritime fuel operations, on Tuesday (21 July) said it has started a trial in Singapore, integrating FuelBoss directly with a bunker buyer’s own platform.

The company announced Singapore-headquartered container shipping firm Ocean Network Express (ONE) as its first buyer-side integration partner. 

“It is no coincidence we start in Singapore, as the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) remains at the forefront of digitalisation of all things bunkering,” the company said in a social media post.

In November 2023, MPA launched its digital bunkering platform, becoming the world’s first port to implement e-BDN. 

Ofiniti said every bunker delivery still runs on retyped data. 

“The buyer’s system says one thing, the supplier says another, and someone reconciles the gap by email, phone, or PDF. On every stem,” the company said. 

“We built FuelBoss to change this reality.”

With the integration, operational data now flows without manual re-entry, fewer reconciliation errors and faster processing and data, instead of documents, are readily available for procurement and claims workflows. 

“One connection will not transform the industry on its own, but digitalisation gets built one integration at a time. We are grateful to ONE for being willing to go first,” Ofiniti added.

Manifold Times previously reported ONE completing its successful trial of the electronic Bunker Delivery Note (e-BDN) with Shell. 

The e-BDN trial, using the digital bunkering solution developed by Angsana Technology, was conducted on 9 September 2023 at the Port of Singapore, with support from the MPA.

In March 2025, Ofiniti acquired Singapore-based Angsana Technology, with the entire Angsana team joining Ofiniti as part of the acquisition.

Related: MPA Chief Executive: Port of Singapore begins digital bunkering initiative today
Related: Singapore set to become first port in the world to debut electronic bunker delivery notes
Related: ONE completes e-BDN adoption trial with Shell in Port of Singapore
Related: Ofiniti acquires Singapore-based Angsana Technology to advance digital bunkering solutions

 

Photo credit: Ofiniti
Published: 22 July, 2026

Continue Reading

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.

Admin

Published

on

By

RESIZED Sora Shimazaki on Pexels

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.

Related: Singapore: Hin Leong Founder OK Lim gets jail term slashed to 13.5 years

 

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

Continue Reading

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.

Admin

Published

on

By

RESIZED Drew Beamer

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.

Related: Singapore: Director declares Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping’s inability to continue business
Related: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping in court over DBS Bank bunker tanker loan
Related: Singapore: Bunker tanker “Coastal Neptune” arrested
Related: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping, Coastal Logistics tankers enter S&P market

 

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

Continue Reading

Trending