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:
27 December 2022
Singapore
VLSFO availability remains tight in Singapore with recommended lead times increasing slightly to 12-14 days from 11-13 days in the prior week. Demand for the grade in the port remains normal, a source says.
Lead times for HSFO in Singapore have come down to 6-10 days from 9-12 days previously. LSMGO has the shortest lead times among the grades in Singapore at 3-5 days.
Residual fuel oil stocks in Singapore have averaged 2% higher so far in December than in November, according to Enterprise Singapore. The Net fuel oil imports have fallen 21% in Singapore, so far this month, with both fuel oil imports and exports declining by 18% and 11%, respectively.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s middle distillate stocks have averaged 2% lower, so far, in December than the average in November.
East Asia
Zhoushan continues to price its VLSFO at levels lower than other major Asian hubs. Chinese port’s bunkering has been grappling with sluggish demand and weather disruptions, a source says.
Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO in Zhoushan remains good, with lead times remaining almost steady throughout the week at 3-4 days and 2-3 days, respectively.
HSFO availability remains subject to availability in Zhoushan as most suppliers are sold out and replenishment cargoes are due to arrive in January, a source says.
Availability across all grades is tight in Hong Kong, with recommended lead times remaining steady at seven days from the past week.
Recommended lead time across all grades in South Korean ports is two weeks out now, but one supplier can offer the grades at much shorter lead times of around five days, a source says.
Bad weather has disrupted bunkering in the South Korean ports of Busan, Onsan and Ulsan so far this week. Bad weather is forecast at South Korean ports till 31 December, which might impact bunkering, a source says.
South Asia
Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO remains good in Mumbai, with short lead times of 2-3 days.
Recommended lead times for VLSFO in Mundra and Kandla on India’s northwest coast are around 2-3 days. LSMGO remains readily available in Kandla.
Prompt dates for both VLSFO and LSMGO remain available in Cochin and Chennai on the southern coast of India. While VLSFO availability remains good in Tuticorin, LSMGO is subject to the enquiry at the port.
Visakhapatnam on India’s southwestern coast has short lead times of 2-3 days for both VLSFO and LSMGO.
Meanwhile, Paradip on India’s east coast has almost run out of VLSFO. Haldia has good availability of VLSFO.
One supplier can offer all the grades in Sri Lanka’s Colombo, with lead times of four days.
Middle East
High demand with loading delays has contributed to tightness in Fujairah’s market. Availability of all grades remains tight in the UAE port, with recommended lead times increasing to 9-12 days from 8-9 days in the prior week.
The Omani ports of Duqm, Sohar, Salalah and Muscat have good availability of LSMGO, with short lead times of 2-3 days.
By Tuhin Roy
Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 28 December, 2022
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