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:

• LSMGO availability is good in the ARA hub
• Demand slows in Malta
• Strong bunker demand in Walvis Bay

Northwest Europe

LSMGO availability is good in Rotterdam and in the wider ARA hub. Lead times of 2-4 days are generally recommended in the ARA hub, a trader said. For HSFO and VLSFO grades, lead times of 5-7 days are recommended to ensure full coverage from suppliers.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have averaged 13% higher so far this month than across December, according to Insights Global data.

The region has imported 107,000 b/d of fuel oil so far this month, down from 220,000 b/d imported in December, according to cargo tracker Vortexa.

The UK has emerged as the ARA’s biggest fuel oil import source this month, accounting for 50% of the ARA’s total imports this month, followed by Poland (23%) and Germany (15%).

The ARA’s independent gasoil inventories – which include diesel and heating oil – have increased by 5% so far this month.

In the German port of Hamburg, prompt supply is available for all three bunker grades. Lead times of 3-5 days are recommended for all grades.

Off Skaw, lead times of 5-7 days are recommended for LSMGO and VLSFO deliveries, a trader says. HSFO remains tight off Skaw, with longer lead times of 7-10 days for the grade. 

Mediterranean

The intermittent weather disruptions in Gibraltar over the last week resulted in congestion during the earlier part of this week. However, the congestion was mostly cleared by Wednesday.

Availability remains normal in Gibraltar, with lead times of 5-7 days recommended for HSFO and VLSFO. Shorter lead times of 4-6 days are recommended for LSMGO deliveries. Calmer weather is forecast in the port for the remaining days of this week.

In the Canary Islands’ port of Las Palmas, bunker operations at the outer anchorage area have been suspended since Monday amid adverse weather conditions, according to port agent MH Bland. Meanwhile, bunkers were available via ex-pipe at berth or by barge at the port’s inner anchorage on Wednesday. But only one vessel at a time was allowed to receive bunkers in the inner anchorage.

Bunker demand off Malta has declined some as vessels avoid Suez Canal transits due to attacks in the Red Sea, a trader said, adding that prompt availability is normal across all grades at the port.

Off Malta, bunkering resumed at anchorage area four on Wednesday after a brief suspension a day earlier. Space at area four is limited and loaded tankers are not allowed to receive bunkers there, MH Bland added. Wind gusts of up to 25 knots are forecast to hit the region on Thursday, which could disrupt bunkering there.

In the Turkish port of Istanbul, bunker fuel availability is normal for both prompt and non-prompt delivery dates, a trader confirmed. Weather is expected to remain calm for the remaining days of this week, but wind gusts of nearly 22 knots are forecast next Monday.

All grades remain in good supply in the Greek port of Piraeus. Rough weather conditions are forecast over the weekend, with wind speeds forecasted to intensify and touch 36 knots on Sunday.

Africa

African ports continue to witness unusually high demand, Simone Piredda, senior trader at Monjasa told ENGINE. The ongoing Red Sea situation has increased demand in ports across East, Southern and West Africa, Piredda noted.

Suspended offshore bunkering in Algoa Bay is another contributor to the heightened demand in West Africa and surrounding areas, Piredda said, adding that other Southern African ports and East Africa have also seen an increase in demand because Algoa Bay is out of play.

Namibia’s Walvis Bay is currently showing the highest demand, according to Piredda. “Our data shows that Walvis Bay, Namibia, is increasingly becoming a refuelling centre for many vessels rerouting around Cape of Good Hope,” he said.

In East Africa, Mauritius’ Port Louis has seen an uptick in demand, Piredda pointed out.

Availability is tight in the South African ports of Durban and Richards Bay. Lead times for VLSFO are up to two weeks due to low product availability, according to a trader. LSMGO is also tight and requires lead times of over ten days.

Mozambique’s Nacala and Maputo ports are still witnessing a surge in bunker-only calls, a source told ENGINE. HSFO and LSMGO demand is high in these ports, while VLSFO demand remains steady, the source added. No congestion has been reported in both ports.

In Nacala, HSFO availability has tightened, while VLSFO and LSMGO availability has been relatively better. Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO supply is available in Maputo.

By Manjula Nair

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 25 January, 2024