Business

ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

VLSFO remains tight in Singapore; Zhoushan faces weather disruptions; good availability in several Indian ports.

Published

2 years ago

April 5, 2023

Admin

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:

4 April 2023

VLSFO remains tight in Singapore
Zhoushan faces weather disruptions
Good availability in several Indian ports

Singapore

Availability of VLSFO is still tight in Singapore, with recommended lead times of 9-11 days – almost same as last week. LSMGO and HSFO availability, meanwhile, has improved slightly over the same time period.

Lead times for LSMGO in Singapore have shortened to 3-6 days now, from 4-7 days previously. HSFO stems now need 6-9 days of lead time – down from 8-11 days.

Singapore’s residual fuel oil stocks have averaged 2% higher in March than in February, according to Enterprise Singapore. Stocks are up amid a 9% rise in net fuel oil imports. Both imports and exports are up this month.

Meanwhile, Singapore’s middle distillate stocks have surged 23% higher in March.

East Asia

Bunker deliveries have been suspended by rough weather in Zhoushan for the most part since Sunday, a source says.

The Chinese bunkering hub is currently experiencing strong wind gusts of 23-49 knots and swells of more than a metre. Adverse weather conditions are forecast to persist, and bunker operations are likely to resume fully on Thursday, when calmer weather is forecast.

Prompt availability of VLSFO remains tight in Zhoushan, with recommended lead times of 5-8 days – almost the same as last week. HSFO stems need around seven days of lead time, while LSMGO is readily available.

Availability of all bunker fuel grades has been getting tighter in Hong Kong as replenishment cargoes have been delayed, a source says. Lead times of 8-9 days are recommended across grades now – slightly up from around seven days last week.

Meanwhile, all grades have also been getting tighter in southern South Korean ports, with lead times varying widely between 3-12 days. Lead times are shorter in western South Korean ports at around four days across all grades – virtually unchanged from last week.

Rough weather is forecast intermittently between today and 9 April in the South Korean ports of Ulsan, Onsan, Daesan, Taean and Yeosu, which might hamper bunkering.

Adverse weather conditions are also predicted to hamper bunker operations in the Vietnamese port of Ho Chi Minh City on 8 April, and in the Kiwi port of Tauranga between 7-8 April.

South Asia

VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains good in India’s Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Kandla, with short lead times of 2-3 days.

Cochin and Chennai on the southern coast of India also have good availability, while VLSFO and LSMGO remain subject to enquiry in Tuticorin and Haldia. A supplier in Paradip is almost out of VLSFO.

However, the Indian port of Kandla is struggling with congestion and backlogs, which is only expected to ease by 7-8 April, and adverse weather conditions are forecast to hit the west coast port of Sikka and southwestern port of Visakhapatnam between 8-12 April and 12-13 April, respectively.

Middle East

Bunker schedules are under pressure for all three bunker fuel grades in Fujairah as several suppliers are working to clear backlogs caused by bad weather last week.

However, recommended lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO have shortened from 10-11 days last week to nine days now. HSFO requires almost 12 days – almost unchanged from last week. Some suppliers can offer prompt stems of all grades depending on the quantity, a source says.

Meanwhile, the UAE port of Khorfakkan has good availability across all grades, with recommended lead times of 5-7 days.

By Tuhin Roy

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 5 April, 2023

Biofuel

NYK to launch Japan’s first antioxidant for biodiesel bunker fuel in August

When added to biofuel, BioxiGuard slows progression of oxidative degradation and helps deter issues such as metal corrosion, strainer blockage, and cleaning-system fouling often triggered by oxidised fuel.

Published

17 hours ago

May 22, 2025

Admin

Japan’s first antioxidant by NYK for biodiesel bunker fuel set to release in August

Nippon Yuka Kogyo (Nippon Yuka), an NYK Group company specialising in chemical R&D as well as the manufacture and sale of chemical products, on Wednesday (21 May) announced the upcoming release of BioxiGuard, the Japan’s first antioxidant specially developed for marine biodiesel, from 10 August.

NYK said compared with conventional petroleum-based fuels, biofuel contains a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, making it more susceptible to oxidative degradation. Once oxidised, the biofuel can produce acidic substances and sludge, adversely affecting vessel fuel efficiency by reducing the fuel’s calorific value.

Developed by Nippon Yuka based on property analyses of the biofuel used in NYK-operated vessels, BioxiGuard is specifically formulated to enhance the oxidation stability of biodiesel. When added to biofuel, BioxiGuard slows the progression of oxidative degradation and helps deter issues such as metal corrosion, strainer blockage, and cleaning-system fouling often triggered by oxidised fuel.

According to laboratory tests conducted by Nippon Yuka researchers, the addition of BioxiGuard at a concentration of 1 part per 500 resulted in an approximate 50% reduction in the rate of biofuel degradation compared to untreated biofuel.

This significant improvement underscores the potential for vessel operators to not only extend the useful life of biofuel on board but also maintain more stable and cost-effective vessel operations.

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 22 May, 2025

Wind-assisted

Dealfeng to equip Singapore-based Hung Ze’s chemical tankers with rotor sails

Project marks Chinese firm Dealfeng’s first overseas commercial contract for its wind-assisted propulsion technology which entails equipping a new series of 14,000 DWT chemical tankers with Dealfeng Rotor Sails.

Published

17 hours ago

May 22, 2025

Admin

Singapore-based Hung Ze chemical tankers to be equipped with Dealfeng rotor sails

Dealfeng, a Chinese provider of wind-assisted propulsion systems, on Tuesday (20 May) said it has assigned a cooperation agreement with Singapore-based shipowner Hung Ze Shipping.

The partnership will equip a new series of 14,000 DWT chemical tankers with Dealfeng® Rotor Sails.

Each vessel will feature a 5m x 24m Dealfeng Rotor Sail installed on its forecastle deck. Collaborating with maritime software leader NAPA, the project will utilise route optimisation systems to maximise the efficiency of wind-assisted voyages, further enhancing fuel savings and emissions reduction while improving overall energy performance.

“The first vessel in the series is scheduled for delivery with the rotor sail system in the fourth quarter of 2025. Preliminary calculations indicate that the technology will achieve approximately 8% fuel savings on the vessel’s trading routes,” the company said in a social media post.

The project marked Dealfeng’s first overseas commercial contract for its wind-assisted propulsion technology.

Dealfeng, a clean energy technology company specialising in the R&D, manufacturing, and EPC services of shipborne energy-saving systems, has long focused on developing Wind Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS). Its core product, the Rotor Sail, harnesses wind energy via the Magnus effect to provide auxiliary propulsion for vessels.

Tailored to different ship types, the system offers fuel and carbon emission reductions of 5%–25%, with even greater efficiency under favorable wind conditions. Dealfeng’s Rotor Sail technology has obtained certifications from multiple classification societies and has been successfully deployed across numerous vessels, accumulating years of operational experience that validate its safety, reliability, and effectiveness.

Hung Ze operates a diverse fleet ranging from 5,000 DWT vessels to MR product tankers.

Photo credit: Dealfeng
Published: 22 May, 2025

Newbuilding

Höegh Autoliners latest LNG dual-fuel PCTC en route to Shanghai for bunkering

The 9,100 CEU “Höegh Sunrise”, currently sailing the seas, is on its way to Shanghai for bunkering before sailing to Japan and then towards Europe.

Published

17 hours ago

May 22, 2025

Admin

Höegh Autoliners latest LNG dual-fuel PCTC en route to Shanghai for bunkering

Höegh Autoliners on Tuesday (20 May) said its latest liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel pure car and truck carrier has departed China Merchants Heavy Industry’s yard, ready to commence its commercial operations.

The 9,100 CEU Höegh Sunrise, currently sailing the seas, is on its way to Shanghai for bunkering before sailing to Japan and then towards Europe.

The PCTC is the fifth in a series of 12 Aurora Class vessels built by the shipyard in China. The first eight Auroras are or will be equipped with engines primed to run on LNG and low-sulphur oil.

These vessels can be converted to run on ammonia later. By 2027, Höegh Autoliners said the four last vessels of the series will be able to run net zero on ammonia directly from the yard when delivered.

Manifold Times previously reported the naming ceremony of Höegh Autoliner’s fourth Aurora Class newbuild, Höegh Sunlight, at Taicang Haitong Auto Terminal.