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ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

OPL bunkering suspended in Zhoushan; demand weak in Hong Kong; availability good across several Indian ports.

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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:

14 February 2023

  • OPL bunkering suspended in Zhoushan
  • Demand weak in Hong Kong
  • Availability good across several Indian ports

 

Singapore

Bunker demand has been normal in Singapore so far this week. Availability of VLSFO and HSFO grades has improved slightly, with lead times shortening from 8-10 days last week to 7-8 days for VLSFO and 6-9 days for HSFO now.

Prompt LSMGO availability has improved. Lead times of 2-3 days are now advised, down from 5-6 days last week.

Singapore’s residual fuel oil stocks have averaged 3% higher so far this month than in January, according to Enterprise Singapore. The build has come despite a 17% decline in net imports. Both imports and exports are down this month.

Meanwhile, Singapore’s middle distillate stocks have averaged 11% lower so far in February than on average in January.

 

East Asia

Bad weather has kept bunkering suspended in Zhoushan’s outer port limits (OPL) area since Monday, according to White Whale Shipping Agency.

Weather-related disruptions have led to bunker congestion in the Chinese bunkering hub. OPL bunkering is likely to resume in Zhoushan from Wednesday evening, when calmer weather is forecast.

Some suppliers in Zhoushan are running low on VLSFO and LSMGO, while others have stocks. However, this has not led to tightness as demand remains very low, a source says.

VLSFO and LSMGO stems require 3-5 days of lead time in the Chinese bunkering hub. Availability of HSFO remains normal in the port, with lead times of 5-7 days.

However, strong wind gusts of 19-26 knots and waves up to a metre are forecast to hit Zhoushan between Friday and Tuesday next week, which might trigger yet another bunker suspension.

Strong winds and swells are forecast in Hong Kong, which could hamper bunkering until the beginning of next week.

Availability remains normal across all grades in Hong Kong, while demand has weakened of late, a source says. Recommended lead times are seven days across all fuel grades in the port. While lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO have gone up from 3-4 days last week, lead times for HSFO have been unchanged at seven days in both weeks.

Lead times for all grades across southern South Korean ports vary widely, with the shortest requiring three days and the longest needing almost 11 days. However, lead times are short in western South Korean ports at four days but are priced at a premium, a source says.

A source says rough weather might impact bunkering across the South Korean ports of Ulsan, Onsan, Daesan, Taean and Yeosu between 14-15 February and from 19 February onwards.

Bad weather might disrupt bunker operations in the Philippine port of Subic Bay throughout the week.

Strong wind gusts between 39-40 knots are forecast to hit the Thai ports of Koi Sichang and Leam Chabang on 17 February, which might hamper bunkering operations.

 

South Asia

Mumbai has good availability of VLSFO and LSMGO, with prompt dates available.

VLSFO and LSMGO can be delivered with around 2-3 days of lead time in several Indian ports, including Kandla on the northwest coast, Cochin and Chennai on the southern coast, and Visakhapatnam on the southwestern coast.

Availability of grades are subject to enquiry in Tuticorin in the southeast coast and Haldia on the eastern coast of India.

LSMGO availability remains good across the Sri Lankan ports of Colombo and Trincomalee, with prompt dates available.

 

Middle East

Most suppliers in Fujairah have been clearing backlogs created due to bad weather last week. This has contributed to slight tightness in the UAE port’s bunker market, which might persist until 19 February. However, some suppliers can offer prompt dates, a source says.

Lead times of around 11 days are recommended for HSFO, six days for VLSFO and four days for LSMGO in Fujairah.

By Tuhin Roy

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 15 February, 2023

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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