The following article regarding Europe and Africa bunker fuel availability has been provided by online marine fuel procurement platform ENGINE for post on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:
16 March 2022
Bunker fuel availability in the ARA hub is tight across all grades. HSFO380 is particularly tight and recommended lead times are generally around 10 days. Certain suppliers can offer with six days of lead time.
Some suppliers in ARA can offer prompt LSMGO deliveries, while other suppliers are struggling with availability. Recommended lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO are around 6-8 days ahead.
ARA’s independently held ARA stocks of both fuel oil and gasoil decreased by almost 2% to last week, with gasoil drawn down close to recent multi-year lows, according to Insights Global.
Supply has also been getting tighter in Hamburg. HSFO380 and LSMGO availability is tight compared to VLSFO. Certain suppliers are still offering HSFO380 produced at the Schwedt refinery, sources say.
Significant volumes of HSFO380 supplied as bunker fuel in Hamburg come from the Schwedt refinery. The refinery gets its crude supplies via pipeline from Russia, sources say. The refinery is partly owned by Russian oil company Rosneft, which is now shunned by several oil majors and bunker suppliers.
Recommended lead time in Hamburg for VLSFO and LSMGO is around 3-5 days.
In Lisbon, the availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is tight. One supplier has adequate supplies and can offer both grades, but other suppliers are struggling with availability this week, sources say.
“Prompt supplies in Lisbon could be possible however suppliers are facing troubles sourcing trucks for deliveries,” one market participant said.
Bunker fuel availability is tight in Gibraltar and recommended lead times are around 9-10 days. Certain suppliers are fully booked until 25 March, sources say.
Due to volatile crude prices and more limited bunker supplies, credit lines have come under pressure in Gibraltar and other ports. “The number of credit days has dropped to 10 and even 7 days, while few suppliers are offering cash in advance basis,” one market participant said.
In Gibraltar, port congestion has dropped to two vessels, from nine vessels on Monday, says port agent MH Bland. Two suppliers are running 4-24 hours behind schedule.
In Algeciras, bunker deliveries on Wednesday were suspended at the more weather-exposed outer Delta anchorage and are limited to the port’s inner A and B anchorages, says port agent MH Bland.
Meanwhile, bunker operations continue to operate smoothly in Ceuta. Seven vessels are due to arrive for bunkers on Wednesday, according to shipping agent Jose Salama & Cia.
In Las Palmas, bunker operations continue to be partially suspended due to bad weather conditions, says port agent MH Bland. Bunker deliveries are still possible at the inner anchorage and through ex-pipe at berth in Las Palmas.
“Suppliers in Las Palmas are running slow with deliveries due to bad weather,” a source says. One supplier has stopped deliveries by barge amid rough weather conditions.
Heavy swells are set to disrupt bunkering at Las Palmas’ outer anchorage for the week ahead, with a brief lull forecast on Saturday.
VLSFO and LSMGO availability are good in Piraeus, and any tightness is currently down to lack of barge capacity as opposed to availability of volumes to supply. Recommended lead times are around 5-7 days.
In Istanbul, demand continues to be slow due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and altered vessel movements in the Black Sea, sources say. Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is good, suppliers can offer prompt deliveries.
Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 17 March, 2022
‘We are not the largest marine fuels supplier in this great shipping hub; surely, our personal relations play a big part of the increasing demand for our solutions,’ said Manager.
GP Global has ‘great experience in the marine market, especially in bunkering’, says Cepsa.
BIMCO Bunker Terms 2018 offer a fair balance between the bunker supplier and bunker purchaser, it advises.
In a company update, Brightoil said it is seeking professional advice for devising feasible plans to protect the interests of stakeholders, creditors and minority shareholders.
Gazpromneft lubes developed in accordance with modern international environmental standards, it says.
Total marine fuel sales at Panama was 425,073 mt in March, compared to sales of 442,026 mt during the similar period in 2021, according to PMA data.
Cash of SGD 4.43 million and USD 243,100, and one piece of 100-gram gold-coloured bar recovered in safe belonging to Abdul Latif Bin Ibrahim kept at Extra Space warehouse storage facility, show court documents.
Program introduces periodic assessments, mass flow metering data analysis, and regular training for relevant key personnel to better handle the MFMS to ensure a high level of continuous operational competency.
U.S. Claims Register Summary recorded a total USD 833 million claim from a total 180 creditors against O.W. Bunker USA, according to the creditor list seen by Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times.
Glencore purchased fuel through Straits Pinnacle which contracted supply from Unicious Energy. Contaminated HSFO was loaded at Khor Fakkan port and shipped to a FSU in Tanjong Pelepas, Malaysia to be further blended.
Individuals were employees of surveying companies engaged by Shell to inspect the volume of oil loaded onto the vessels which Shell supplied oil to; they allegedly accepted bribes totalling at least USD 213,000.
MPA preliminary investigations revealed that the affected marine fuel was supplied by Glencore Singapore Pte Ltd who later sold part of the same cargo to PetroChina International (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
