Bunker Fuel

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (14 Jan 2025)

Prompt supply is tight in Gibraltar; fuel availability improves in Las Palmas; HSFO and VLSFO availability very tight in Port Louis.

Published

5 months ago

January 15, 2026

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:

Prompt supply is tight in Gibraltar
Fuel availability improves in Las Palmas
HSFO and VLSFO availability very tight in Port Louis

Northwest Europe

In the ARA bunkering hub, HSFO and LSMGO deliveries are readily available with a short notice of 2-4 days, while VLSFO supplies may require longer lead times of more than a week, a trader told ENGINE.

Buyers are advised to book B30 stems in the ARA at least a week in advance. All grades are available, although some suppliers require higher minimum volumes than others.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have fallen by 1% in January to date, according to Insights Global data.

The region has imported 181,000 b/d of fuel oil in January so far, slightly lower than the 188,000 b/d imported in December, according to cargo tracker Vortexa. Brazil (45%), Poland (22%) and France (15%) have been the top suppliers.

The ARA has imported 369,000 b/d of gasoil in January, up from the 244,000 b/d imported in December, according to Vortexa data. Majority of the shipments have arrived from India (63%), while the U.S. (13%) and France (10%) have also contributed some supplies.

Bunker availability remains stable in Germany’s Hamburg, with all fuel grades available easily with a notice of 3-5 days, a trader said.

In Scandinavia, fuel availability is tight in Sweden’s Gothenburg and off Denmark’s Skaw, and buyers are advised to book stems with a lead time of more than 10 days for any fuel grade, another trader said.

Mediterranean

Bunker fuel availability remains tight for prompt supplies in the Gibraltar strait ports, and buyers are being advised to book with lead times of between 5-7 days to get competitive offers from a wider selection of suppliers, a trader said.

B30 blends are available in the Gibraltar Strait but require lead times of around 10 days.

The port of Gibraltar is seeing strong bunker demand this week. Some suppliers are requiring more than two days to deliver supplies, port agent MH Bland said.

In neighbouring Algeciras, some suppliers may be delayed by anywhere between 4-18 hours, MH Bland said.

In Barcelona, suppliers need a notice of around 5-7 days to arrange supplies of any fuel type, a trader said.

All fuel grades are now easily available in Las Palmas with a notice of around 2-4 days, compared to last week, when all fuel grades required between 7-10 days of notice, a trader told ENGINE.

Las Palmas is seeing high swells of around 2 metres. This has restricted all bunkering operations to the berth area and in the inner anchorage, where limited space is causing some delays, port agent MH Bland said.

Weather is expected to worsen in the coming days with winds gusting at more than 25 knots and waves higher than 3 metres forecast intermittently between 18-23 January, which could suspend all bunkering operations.

Weather has improved in the East Mediterranean ports this week.

Suppliers delivering fuel off Malta are seeing stable demand. Buyers are requested to book stems with lead times of around 4-5 days for all fuel grades, a trader said. Rough winds of more than 30 knots and waves of over 3 metres are again forecast in the location between 19-20 January.

Availability of HSFO and LSMGO remains normal in Piraeus, with any deliveries readily available with a notice of 3-4 days, a trader said. VLSFO demand remains low in the Greek port and only supplier is currently delivering the fuel grade and only for large quantities, a source told ENGINE.

Some suppliers in Istanbul were facing delivery backlogs and delays earlier in the week due to the weather-related traffic suspension at the Turkish port. While fuel supplies are now available promptly, snowfall expected over the coming days may impact operations due to low visibility, a local supplier said.

Africa

In Togo’s Lome and off Namibia’s Walvis Bay, HSFO availability is very tight, a trader said.

LSMGO and VLSFO deliveries can be arranged with around 5-7 days of lead time at both locations, the trader added.

One supplier in Nigeria’s Lagos anchorage said they can deliver VLSFO with a shorter notice of 3 days.

In South Africa’s Durban and Richards Bay, both HSFO and VLSFO supplies are readily available with a short notice of 2-4 days.

All inbound traffic in Durban has been suspended due to rough northeasterly wind gusts of more than 30 knots seen at the port, shipping agent Trade Ocean confirmed. Rough winds are forecast to last until Thursday, 15 January.

HSFO and VLSFO supplies are very tight in Mauritius’ Port Louis, while LSMGO supplies remain available with a lead time of around 5-7 days, a trader told ENGINE.

By Nachiket Tekawade

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 15 January, 2025

Up Next

UK P&I: Emerging risk onboard dual-fuelled vessels

Don't Miss

Singapore: MPA invites applications for new LNG bunkering licences

Biofuel

BHP and GCMD trial multi-feedstock B100 bio bunker fuel on bulk carrier

Bio-blend in the BHP and GCMD pilot is being used on a BHP-chartered bulk carrier “Berge Lyngor”, which was bunkered in Singapore in early May.

Published

18 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Admin

BHP and GCMD trial multi-feedstock B100 bio bunker fuel on bulk carrier

BHP and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) on Wednesday (3 June) said they have blended biofuels from two distinct feedstocks—used cooking oil and waste animal fats —and introduced the lower-emissions marine fuel into a BHP-chartered bulk carrier as part of a pilot project.

The bio-blend in the BHP and GCMD pilot is being used on a BHP-chartered bulk carrier Berge Lyngor, owned and operated by Berge Bulk, transporting BHP iron ore from Western Australia to China. When run on bio-blend, the vessel has the potential to reduce well-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 79 per cent per voyage compared to sailing on very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO).

The vessel bunkered in Singapore in early May with a B100 bio-blend comprising 50 percent tallow-derived biodiesel, sourced and supplied by HAMR Energy, and 50 per cent used cooking oil (UCOME) supplied by Mitsui & Co Energy Trading Singapore (METS).

Mitsui also blended the fuel and Dan-Bunkering coordinated and executed the bunkering operation, which was performed by Global Energy’s barge MT Maple.

The BHP and GCMD pilot will assess how biofuels from multiple feedstocks can be blended, handled, and introduced under real-world operating conditions using existing used cooking oil bunkering infrastructure.

At the same time, insights from this pilot will help identify solutions to challenges related to fuel quality, handling, traceability, and onboard vessel performance.

Biofuels for global shipping today rely heavily on used cooking oil – a feedstock whose availability is approaching its projected limits. Biofuel from waste animal fats presents a promising option to expand the supply of lower-emissions marine fuels.

The outcomes of the pilot are expected to shed light on the practical steps to integrate biofuel blends from different feedstocks into existing supply chains. The diversity of biofuels will provide shipowners and operators with greater flexibility to optimise fuel procurement based on cost, availability, and lifecycle emissions performance.

Biofuels derived from different feedstocks can exhibit varying properties that may impact operations, including potential corrosion from oxidation, fuel system clogging caused by wax formation, which this pilot aims to assess.

The pilot will trace and verify the biofuel blend’s integrity aimed at bolstering confidence in emissions reductions reporting. The pilot will also provide insights into how robust tracing can support future marine fuel supply chains where biofuels from multiple feedstocks with varying lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions footprints are blended together.

This project is co-funded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore under the Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund (MINT).

Photo credit: Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
Published: 3 June, 2026

Biofuel

NYK starts one-year B100 bio bunker fuel trial on car carrier

In this trial, NYK will operate a car carrier continuously on B100 for one year to evaluate the impact on engines, fuel supply systems, and operational practices.

Published

18 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Admin

NYK starts one-year B100 bio bunker fuel trial on car carrier

Japanese shipping firm NYK on Tuesday (2 June) said it has commenced a one-year long-term trial involving the continuous use of 100% biofuel (B100) on an NYK-operated car carrier.

In this trial, NYK will operate a car carrier continuously on B100 for one year to evaluate the impact on engines, fuel supply systems, and operational practices. High-purity biofuels such as B100 are known to be susceptible to degradation from oxygen, light, and heat, raising concerns about the stability of such fuels during long-term use.

In this trial, the biofuel primarily comprises FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) derived from used cooking oil and similar feedstocks.

The initiative is designed to evaluate the fuel’s effects on the vessel’s equipment and verify operational safety under real-world conditions.

Through this effort, NYK seeks to accumulate technical expertise that will support the broader use of high-purity biofuels and further accelerate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

NYK has been advancing the use of biofuels through various initiatives. In 2024, the company conducted a trial using biofuel blend B24 and subsequently expanded practical usage to B30. However, the company said there remains limited global experience with the long-term continuous use of B100.

“By collecting long-term operational data through this trial, NYK aims to accumulate valuable technical insights to support both the safe operation of vessels and the wider adoption of high-purity biofuels,” it said.

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 3 June, 2026

Ammonia

AM Green plans to build green ammonia plant at Indian port

Initiative also includes development of green ammonia handling, storage and bunkering infrastructure, pilot bunkering operations, safety procedures and training programmes, says VOC Port Authority.

Published

18 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Admin

VO Chidambaranar (VOC) Port Authority on Friday (29 May) said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s ammonia producer AM Green Ammonia to collaborate in the development of a green ammonia production plant.

The plant will have a capacity of one million tonnes per annum (MTPA) at Tuticorin.

The initiative also includes development of green ammonia handling, storage and bunkering infrastructure, pilot bunkering operations, safety procedures and training programmes.

The project is expected to support the development of green fuel corridors connecting VOC Port with major ports in Europe and Asia, thereby strengthening India’s position in the global green fuels value chain.

VOC Port also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bureau Veritas (India) Pvt. Ltd., to collaborate on Green Port certification, emissions accounting, ESG reporting, safety validation, development of green bunkering practices, and establishment of a Centre of Excellence for green fuels and sustainability.

The port also plans for an upcoming 750 m³ green methanol bunkering facility.

Photo credit: Naveed Ahmed on Unsplash
Published: 3 June, 2026