Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (11 Sep 2024)

HSFO availability improves in the ARA; HSFO is still tight in Las Palmas; prompt LSMGO is tight in Durban.

Published

8 months ago

September 12, 2024

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:

HSFO availability improves in the ARA
HSFO is still tight in Las Palmas
Prompt LSMGO is tight in Durban

Northwest Europe

HSFO availability has improved in Rotterdam, a trader told ENGINE. HSFO supply was tight for very prompt delivery dates (0–2 days) last week, but supply has improved now. Some suppliers in the port experienced HSFO loading delays at oil terminals last week, which have now subsided, the trader added. Lead times of 3–5 days are advised for HSFO, according to a trader.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains normal in Rotterdam and in the wider ARA hub. Recommended lead times have stayed consistent over the last few weeks at 3–5 days.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have averaged 9% lower coming into September than across August, according to Insights Global data.

The region has imported 99,000 b/d of fuel oil in September so far, significantly down from 223,000 b/d imported in August, according to data from cargo tracker Vortexa. The ARA has imported low-sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) and HSFO in a 56/44 ratio coming into this month, a slight change from the 53/47 ratio in August.

The UK has emerged as the ARA’s biggest fuel import source coming into this month, accounting for 48% of the total imports so far. Poland has ranked second so far this month, accounting for 44% of the ARA's total imports, followed by Germany with 7% of the region's total imports.

The ARA hub’s independent gasoil inventories — which include diesel and heating oil — have gained by 10% coming into this month. The region has imported 459,000 b/d of gasoil in September so far, up from 355,000 b/d of gasoil imported in August, according to Vortexa data.

Germany’s Hamburg port has good availability across all three grades, a trader told ENGINE. Availability is good for all grades and suppliers can supply for prompt delivery dates. Lead times of 3–5 days are recommended in the port, the trader added.

Mediterranean

Bunker fuel availability is good across all three grades in Gibraltar port, a trader said. Suppliers can offer all three grades for prompt delivery dates. Lead times of 3–5 days are advised across all three grades, unchanged since last week.

Gibraltar was experiencing calm weather conditions on Wednesday, making it conducive to bunkering. But, wind gusts of 20-30 knots are forecast to hit the region on Friday and over the weekend, which could hamper bunkering in the port.

HSFO availability has improved in the Canary Islands’ port of Las Palmas. The port experienced HSFO tightness since mid-August, but supply has improved now. As a result, lead times have reduced from 5–7 days in the past few weeks to 3–5 days now. VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in the port, with lead times of 3–5 days recommended.

Adverse weather conditions between Wednesday and Sunday could impact bunkering in the area, a source said.

The Greek port of Piraeus continues to experience tightness for prompt HSFO and VLSFO supply, a trader told ENGINE. Lead times of 5–7 days are advised for both grades, similar to past weeks, the trader added. LSMGO availability is normal with lead times of 3–4 days recommended. Bunkering disruptions may occur between Wednesday and Saturday when bad weather is forecast in the porta area.

Malta Offshore also has tight availability of HSFO, with lead times of 4–6 days advised for the grade. VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in the port with lead times of 3–4 days recommended. Adverse weather may complicate deliveries off Malta between Wednesday and Saturday, a source said.

Bunker availability is normal across all grades in Turkey’s Istanbul port. Suppliers can offer prompt delivery dates for all three grades and lead times of 3–4 days are generally recommended, a trader said. Calm weather conditions are forecast for the rest of this week.

Africa

In South Africa’s Durban and Richards Bay, VLSFO continues to be tight for prompt delivery with lead times of 7–10 days recommended. In Durban, LSMGO is tight with some suppliers requiring lead times of up to two weeks for the grade, a trader said.

Weather-induced bunkering disruptions may occur in Durban on Wednesday when wind gusts of up to 22 knots are forecast.

In Mauritius’ Port Louis, lead times of over ten days are recommended for VLSFO and LSMGO, according to a trader. However, some suppliers can offer both grades for prompt delivery dates. Calm weather is forecast in Port Louis for the rest of the week, making it conducive to bunkering.

Algoa Bay’s offshore bunkering impasse has completed a year this month. In September 2023, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) suspended offshore bunkering after it detained bunker barges over import duty disputes. Bunker supply has since then been limited to in-port deliveries in the adjacent Port Elizabeth by a supplier — Africa Bunkering & Shipping (ABS).

By Manjula Nair

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 12 September, 2024

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Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (24 Apr 2025)

Decline in vessels and imports in Los Angeles; demand remains weak in Panama; fuel availability in Brazil is steady.

Published

12 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Admin

The following article regarding bunker fuel availability in the Americas region has been provided by online marine fuel procurement platform ENGINE for post on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

Decline in vessels and imports in Los Angeles
Demand remains weak in Panama
Fuel availability in Brazil is steady

North America

Houston is currently seeing strong demand, and both HSFO and VLSFO are readily available, with suppliers recommending lead times of around seven days. However, LSMGO supply remains tight through the end of the month, with lead times extending to 7-10 days.

Operations in the port are running smoothly, with occasional fog in the nights and early mornings.

"The weather has been favorable recently with no major disruptions," a source noted.

Demand has slightly decreased compared to last week across North America, but bookings are still being secured. Overall, market conditions remain steady, with no significant fluctuations in supply or demand.

In New York, bunker demand for HSFO remains strong with good supply, while VLSFO demand has been more subdued.

Lead times range from 3–5 days for VLSFO and LSMGO, while HSFO requires longer wait times.

Strong wind gusts are forecast until the end of the week, which could potentially disrupt barge deliveries at the anchorage, though no significant backlogs have been reported so far.

On the West Coast, the port of Los Angeles is experiencing a decline in demand, while bunker fuel availability remains stable, with lead times typically under a week.

Vessel arrivals and import volumes at the port have dropped, partly due to escalating US-China trade tensions. Hapag-Lloyd, for instance, has canceled 30% of its shipments from China, leading to a shift in shipping demand toward Southeast Asia.

Additionally, the port noted a 64% drop in new bookings for shipments from China to the US in early April, according to the Port of Los Angeles. This highlights the reassessment of costs and strategies by shippers amid the changing trade landscape.

Caribbean and Latin America

In Panama, the market has been quiet over the past few days across the ports of Balboa and Cristobal, with demand reported to be lower. Bunker fuel availability in the region remains good, with recommended lead times of less than a week.

In Argentina, supply is tight in Zona Comun with recommended lead times of 10-12 days.

The port is experiencing increased congestion recently, primarily because barges of two of its suppliers, Minerva and Raizen, are currently undergoing dry dock maintenance.

“As a result, bunker fuel deliveries in the area are now being handled solely by Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales, an Argentine oil and gas company, and World Fuel Services, a fuel services provider”, a source said.

Draft conditions in Argentina remain unstable, mainly due to changing winds around the estuary River Plate. Draft conditions refer to the depth of water needed for a ship to safely navigate without hitting the bottom.

These shifts are common when water levels are low and are likely to continue for now, a source said.

This means ships may need to reduce cargo loads or wait for safer sailing conditions.

Fuel availability in Brazil has been steady, with recommended lead times of 5-7 days.

Santos is experiencing some congestion, which is expected to persist for the next five days, but this is a normal occurrence for the region, a source said.

All fuel grades are currently available for prompt delivery across the Columbian ports of Santa Marta, Barranquilla, and Cartagena, with a recommended lead time of 2-3 days.

By Gautamee Hazarika

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 25 April, 2025

Bunker Fuel

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (24 April 2025)

Bunker report panellists include Island Oil Limited, Cockett Marine Oil Pte, Monjasa A/S and KPI OceanConnect, NSI Marine and Transparensea Fuels.

Published

12 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Admin

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (24 April 2025)

The following bunker report has been provided by freight market information provider Baltic Exchange for post on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

Note:

All values are in US$/metric ton, all-in (invoice price), delivered on board
Delivery in 7-10 days
ISO 8217:2010
IFO 380 3.5% Sulphur
IFO 380 0.5% Sulphur
DMA 0.1% Sulphur

Fujairah – Offshore Anchorage Area
Gibraltar – Anchorage area
Houston – Houston Harbor
Panama – (Pacific) dangerous cargo area, Balboa
Rotterdam – Waalhaven – Maasvlakte range
Singapore – Anchorage, under SBA Scheme
Zhoushan – Southern anchorage area

Submitted weekly at Close of Business UK time Daily

Panellists:
Cockett Marine Oil Pte, Island Oil Limited, KPI OceanConnect, Monjasa A/S, NSI Marine and Transparensea Fuels

Photo credit and source: Baltic Exchange
Published: 25 April, 2025

Bunker Fuel

Port of Rotterdam publishes bunker fuel sales data for Q1 2025

Port data showed 230,129 m3 of liquefied natural gas (LNG) being delivered as a marine fuel in Q1 2025, a 6.9% increase from 215,247 m3 in Q1 2024.

Published

1 day ago

April 24, 2025

Admin

The Port of Rotterdam Authority recently published bunker fuel sales data for the first quarter (Q1) of 2025.

Deliveries of ultra low sulphur fuel oil, very low sulphur fuel oil, high sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in Q1 2025 (against on year) recorded respectively 187,031 metric tonnes (mt) (+5.8% from 176,797 mt), 789,218 mt (+15.9% from 680,782 mt), 829,197 mt (+1.4% from 818,028 mt), 295,127 (+12.4% from 262,496 mt), 97,944 mt (-19% from 120,913 mt).

Bio-blended variants of ultra low sulphur fuel oil, very low sulphur fuel oil, high sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in Q1 2025 (against on year) recorded respectively 8,490 mt (-68.9% from 27,263 mt), 49,263 mt (-71.7% from 174,301 mt), 28,271 mt (-33.9% from 42,761 mt), 15,640 mt (+8.7% from 13,180 mt) and 5,129 mt (-99.8% from 958 mt).

Port data showed 230,129 m3 of liquefied natural gas (LNG) being delivered as a marine fuel in Q1 2025, a 6.9% increase from 215,247 m3 in Q1 2024. Bio-methanol and bio-blended LNG recorded 5,490 mt and zero respectively in Q1 2025.

Photo credit: Port of Rotterdam
Published: 24 April, 2025