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ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

VLSFO availability tight in Singapore; Zhoushan could face weather disruptions; demand good in Hong Kong.

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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:

2 May 2023 

  • VLSFO availability tight in Singapore
  • Zhoushan could face weather disruptions
  • Demand good in Hong Kong

 

Singapore

Demand has been low on average in Singapore so far this week. Availability of VLSFO remains tight in Singapore, with lead times now stretching to almost two weeks out – up from 9-11 days last week.

LSMGO stems have required much shorter lead times of 4-6 days this week and last week. Lead times of HSFO vary widely and are between 3-10 days this week, down from 5-11 days last week.

Singapore’s residual fuel oil stocks averaged 6% higher in April than in March, according to Enterprise Singapore. Fuel oil inventories gained amid a marginal 1% increase in net fuel oil imports.

Meanwhile, Singapore’s middle distillate stocks averaged 11% lower in April than in March.

 

East Asia

Prompt availability is tight in China’s Zhoushan. Recommended lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO are around six days now – significantly down from over two weeks and 10-12 days, respectively, at the end of last week. Recommended lead times for HSFO have also shortened from 10-12 days at the end of last week to 6-8 days now.

Bunker activity remains muted in the Chinese port due to Labour Day holidays that last from 29 April to 3 May.

Furthermore, bunker operations in Zhoushan could be suspended tomorrow, when bad weather is forecast, a source says. Strong winds of 21-25 knots and swells of more than a metre are expected to hit the Chinese bunkering hub between 3-5 May, which could further disrupt bunker deliveries.

Availability of VLSFO and HSFO has gotten tighter amid good demand in Hong Kong. Lead times for both grades are up from around seven days last week, to 10-11 days now. LSMGO availability remains good in Hong Kong as well, with prompt dates available.

Meanwhile, prompt availability for all bunker fuel grades remains tight across South Korean ports, with lead times varying widely between 4-11 days – virtually the same as last week.

Bad weather is forecast intermittently in the South Korean ports of Ulsan, Onsan, Daesan, Taean and Yeosu between 4-7 May, which might impact bunker operations.

The Philippine port of Subic Bay is forecasts to experience adverse weather on 3 May, and the Kiwi port of Tauranga between 3-8 May, which might hamper bunkering.

 

South Asia

VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains good in Kandla on India’s northwest coast and in Visakhapatnam on the southwest coast, 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 availability in Mumbai. Both grades are subject to enquiry in Tuticorin and Haldia.

 

Middle East

Availability of all bunker fuel grades remain tight for prompt dates in Fujairah. Lead times of 5-7 days are recommended across all fuel grades. That is the same as last week for VLSFO and LSMGO, while HSFO lead times have come down from nine days last week.

Availability of LSMGO remains very good in the Omani ports of Muscat, Salalah, Sohar and Duqm, with prompt dates available.

By Tuhin Roy

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 2 May, 2023

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Methanol

Chimbusco completes bunkering op of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship

“COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU” was supplied approximately 900 metric tonnes of methanol marine fuel by Chimbusco in Shanghai on 11 May.

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Chimbusco completes bunkering of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship

China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co Ltd (Chimbusco) completed a bunkering operation of the first domestically manufactured methanol dual-fuel container ship in Shanghai on 11 May, according to COSCO Shipping on Thursday (15 May). 

COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU was supplied approximately 900 metric tonnes (mt) of methanol marine fuel by Chimbusco at Pier 1 of COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry. 

The operation started on 7 May but was postponed due to unfavourable weather from the Jianghuai Cyclone.

Chimbusco completes bunkering of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship

COSCO Shipping said the operation marked an important achievement in green and low-carbon transformation in shipping, from ship construction and ecological layout of the entire green fuel industry chain of the company. 

Manifold Times previously reported the naming ceremony of China’s first 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship, COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU in Yangzhou.

The methanol dual-fuel container ship named was the first in a series of vessels from COSCO Shipping Holdings, constructed by COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Yangzhou. 

Related: COSCO Shipping names China’s first 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship

 

Photo credit: Cosco Shipping
Published: 23 May, 2025

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Vessel Arrest

Malaysia: MMEA detains Thai tanker off Kelantan after shown suspicious documents

Initial checks revealed that insurance documents and other documents related to the vessel appeared suspicious and all six crew members on board failed to provide valid identification documents.

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Malaysia: MMEA detains Thai tanker off Kelantan after shown suspicious documents

The Kelantan Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Thursday (22 May) said it has detained a suspicious tanker at about 100 nautical miles from the Tok Bali estuary on 20 May. 

Kelantan MMEA director, Maritime Captain Erwan Shah Soahdi said an MMEA asset had detained the tanker while patrolling the Malaysia-Vietnam border. 

The vessel was detected after displaying several suspicious signs at around 1 pm before it was successfully detained 20 minutes later.

Malaysia: MMEA detains Thai tanker off Kelantan after shown suspicious documents

“Initial checks revealed the vessel has six crew members, including a captain and all are believed to be Thai citizens aged between 38 and 70,” he said.

It was also found that the insurance documents and other documents related to the vessel appeared suspicious and all the crews on board the vessel failed to provide valid identification documents during the check. 

The case is being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.

 

Photo credit: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
Published: 23 May, 2025

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LNG Bunkering

Shell wraps up its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona

Milestone was achieved by Shell’s LNG bunker barge “Haugesund Knutsen” supplying the “Mein Schiff Relax” cruise ship at Port of Barcelona, says Dexter Belmar of Shell.

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Shell wraps up its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona

Energy giant Shell recently conducted its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona, according to Dexter Belmar, General Manager and Head of Global Downstream LNG on Thursday (22 May).

He said the milestone was achieved by Shell’s LNG bunker barge Haugesund Knutsen supplying the Mein Schiff Relax cruise ship.

“Barcelona, one of Europe and the Mediterranean’s leading cruise ports, is also a key LNG bunkering location for Shell as we help more cruise ships transition to lower-emission fuels,” he said in a social media post. 

“A huge thank you to Royal Caribbean Group for their trust, and to Knutsen and Port of Barcelona for their collaboration in making this bunkering safe and efficient.”

Shell wraps up its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona

Belmar said LNG is leading the way as the preferred alternative bunker fuel in the cruise industry. 

“At Shell, we’re proud to support LNG fuelling needs at 26 locations worldwide, including major cruise ports like Bahamas, Barcelona, Canaveral, Everglades, Jamaica, Miami, Singapore, Southampton, and Tenerife,” he added. 

 

Photo credit: Shell
Published: 23 May, 2025

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