Business

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Availability gets tighter as many avoid Russian product; prompt HSFO380 limited in several European ports; shorter credit days, some demanding cash in advance.

Published

4 years ago

March 17, 2022

Admin

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

Availability gets tighter as many avoid Russian product
Prompt HSFO380 limited in several European ports
Shorter credit days, some demanding cash in advance

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

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.

Published

11 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

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.

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

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.

Published

11 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

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.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Published

11 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post.

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026