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ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

ARA fuel oil stocks grew in November; supply steady in Gibraltar Strait; Algoa Bay suppliers working through backlogs.

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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:

7 December 2022

  • ARA fuel oil stocks grew in November
  • Supply steady in Gibraltar Strait
  • Algoa Bay suppliers working through backlogs

 

Northwest Europe

VLSFO availability is said to be normal in the ARA hub, while securing prompt deliveries of HSFO and LSMGO can be slightly difficult amid good demand, a source says. Recommended lead times for LSMGO and VLSFO in Rotterdam are around four days, while HSFO requires around 5-6 days, sources say.

The ARA’s independent fuel oil stocks averaged 2% higher last month than in October, according to Insights Global data. Even as fuel oil inventories increased in November, they were still below their five-year average position for the year.

According to cargo tracker Vortexa, the ARA primarily imported fuel oil imports from the UK, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Iraq and Lithuania in November. Most of these volumes comprised low sulphur fuel oil (LSFO). Vortexa has not picked up any Russian cargo imports to the region since August.

The ARA’s average gasoil stocks were steady in November at 12.91 million bbls, but this was far below their five-year average position for the time of the year.

Supply of VLSFO and LSMGO is said to be normal off Skaw, requiring lead times of around seven days, a source says. Prompt availability of HSFO is slightly tight there, the source adds.

 

Mediterranean

Bunker fuels supply across all grades is said to be normal in Gibraltar Strait ports. Lead times of 3-4 days are advised for VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries in the region, and HSFO requires around five days, a source says.

Two suppliers in Gibraltar and one in Algeciras experienced delays on Wednesday, according to port agent MH Bland.

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal in Algeciras and Las Palmas. But prompt supply of the two grades is slightly tight off Malta, a source says. Lead times of 5-6 days are advised for bunkering off Malta due to limited barge availability, a source says.

Malta is seeing strong bunker demand. 15 vessels were scheduled to arrive for bunkers in and off Malta on Wednesday, according to Seatrans Shipping agency.

Meanwhile, suppliers have been struggling to deliver stems at Las Palmas’ outer anchorages in the recent days due to bad weather conditions. But some suppliers have resumed bunker deliveries at the port’s weather-exposed outer anchorage this week amid calmer weather conditions, a source says. Strong waves are forecast to hit Las Palmas on Friday, which could disrupt deliveries at its outer anchorage once again.

Bunker demand continues to be good in Ceuta. An average of nine vessels have arrived to bunker in Ceuta each day this week, compared to 11 vessels on average each day last week. Bunker supply is said to be normal there.

In the Greek port of Piraeus, availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal, a source says.

 

Africa

Bunker supply is also steady in South Africa’s Durban and Algoa Bay. Lead times of around seven days are advised for VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries in Durban, a source says.

Suppliers are working to clear bunker backlogs in Algoa Bay. Deliveries in the bay resumed on Tuesday after being suspended for four days due to bad weather conditions, according to Rennies Ships Agency. Four vessels were waiting to receive bunkers at anchorages in the region on Wednesday, Rennies says.

Bunker fuel demand has been growing in Mozambique’s Nacala recently, according to market sources. The number of bunker calls in the port have picked up gradually, from four vessels in each of the first two weeks of November, through to 5-6 vessels in the two last weeks of November, to 12 vessels expected this week.

Prompt supply of VLSFO and LSMGO is said to be steady in both Nacala and Maputo.

By Shilpa Sharma

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 8 December, 2022

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China: Chimbusco and BJEC enter green methanol cooperation agreement

Document was signed between Ding Lihai, deputy general manager of Chimbusco, and Li Jianjun, deputy general manager of BJEC.

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Chimbusco x BJEC MT

China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co.,Ltd. (Chimbusco) and POWERCHINA Beijing Engineering Corporation Limited (BJEC) on Thursday (3 July) formally entered into a green methanol strategic cooperation framework agreement.

The document was signed between Ding Lihai, deputy general manager of Chimbusco, and Li Jianjun, deputy general manager of BJEC.

BJEC, a subsidiary of China Power Engineering Group, is experienced in the survey, design, construction and technology research and development of large-scale renewable energy projects.

Moving forward, the two parties said they will respectively focus on their core advantages and work together to promote the production, supply, storage and refuelling of green methanol as an energy source to help support the low-carbon transformation of the shipping industry.

Ding Lihai said: “The shipping industry is one of the important sources of global carbon emissions. Promoting low-carbon fuel is the key to the transformation of the industry. As the main force in the supply of bunker fuel, Chimbusco has been committed to expanding its clean fuel supply capacity. The cooperation with BJEC will integrate the advantages of green energy development and fuel supply, accelerate the large-scale application of green methanol, and meet the needs of shipping companies for clean fuel. We look forward to providing effective solutions for the green transformation of the shipping industry through the joint efforts of both parties.”

Li Jianjun said: “Implementing the ‘dual carbon’ goal is an important responsibility of enterprises. BJEC has accumulated strong technical strength in the field of green energy. This cooperation with Chimbusco will focus on the entire industrial chain of green methanol, from raw materials, production to supply, to provide clean and sustainable fuel solutions for the shipping industry. The complementary advantages of both parties will promote the rapid development of the green methanol industry and inject strong impetus into the low-carbon transformation of the shipping industry.”

 

Photo credit: China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co.,Ltd.
Published: 8 July 2025

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Towngas and Royal Vopak collaborate to expand green methanol supply chain network

‘Towngas has recently completed a 6,000-tonne green methanol bunkering project, the largest in Asia,” said its Chief Operating Officer – Green Fuel and Chemicals.

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Towngas x Royal Vopak MT

Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) and Vopak China Management Co., Ltd. (Royal Vopak) on Tuesday (8 July) said both recently signed a strategic framework cooperation agreement to collaborate in areas such as green methanol production, storage, bunkering, and trading etc.

Focusing on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Asia-Pacific markets, both parties are joining forces to expand an efficient green methanol supply chain network and support the shipping industry’s low-carbon transition.

The two parties will capitalise on their respective strengths to expand the supply network of green methanol.

Towngas employs proprietary technology to convert agricultural and forestry waste as well as scrap tyres into green methanol, and has obtained multiple international certifications and provides a sufficient supply of green methanol for maritime fuel bunkering.

Royal Vopak provides green methanol storage and terminal services with its comprehensive storage and terminal infrastructure and coastal port network advantages.

Together, the two parties will achieve efficient resource allocation and ship green methanol to the Greater Bay Area, East China, South China, and the broader Asia-Pacific markets, further expanding the green methanol supply chain network.

Towngas and Royal Vopak will further develop multiple areas of regional cooperation, including in the Greater Bay Area. By leveraging the strengths of the ports in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, the partnership will focus on “production and storage synergy” as its core to strengthen cooperation around logistics and terminal facility construction, and to build an integrated green methanol storage and transportation network.

In East China, the two parties will centre their collaboration in Shanghai and Ningbo, two major international ports, to further strengthen cooperation in logistics storage and bunkering facility construction to meet the growing demand for green fuels at both ports.

In the Bohai Bay region, with Tianjin as the strategic hub, Towngas will transport green methanol produced at its northern China production base to Royal Vopak’s local storage tank farm, then achieve resource allocation through the Royal Vopak’s distribution network, supporting the supply of green methanol from northern China to the national and Asia-Pacific markets.

The two parties will also target key export markets, such as Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea, to accelerate overseas expansion and boost the market competitiveness of clean energy in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Towngas has recently completed a 6,000-tonne green methanol bunkering project, the largest in Asia,” said Sham Man-fai, Towngas Chief Operating Officer – Green Fuel and Chemicals.

“It was completed with the support of Royal Vopak’s Tianjin storage tank farm facilities, laying a solid foundation for this partnership.

“Towngas’s Inner Mongolia green methanol plant is set to increase its annual capacity from 100,000 tonnes to 150,000 tonnes by the end of this year, with plans to further expand to 300,000 tonnes by 2028. Together with Royal Vopak’s storage and terminal services infrastructure and coastal port network, the two parties will build a comprehensive green methanol supply chain network.”

 

Photo credit: Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
Published: 8 July 2025

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SEKAVIN starts new physical supply operations in the port of Istanbul and Izmit Bay

Operation is supported by three marine refuelling barges; namely Tarabya-E, Beykoz- E, and Kalamis-E.

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SEKAVIN BARGE

Piraeus-based bunkering firm SEKAVIN on Monday (7 July) said it has recently started new physical supply operations in the port of Istanbul and Izmit Bay.

The operation is supported by three marine refuelling barges; namely Tarabya-E, Beykoz- E, and Kalamis-E. The bunkering vessels have successfully completed numerous deliveries to seagoing vessels.

According to SEKAVIN, Istanbul represents one of the world’s most strategic and challenging maritime environments. The country sees more than 43,000 annual Bosphorus passages and delivers roughly 2 million metric tons per year in bunkers to receiving ships.

In a statement to Manifold Times, John Tsogas, Global Head of Bunkering at SEKAVIN, noted his company intends to offer partners “a very reliable and flexible service” covering the Northeast Med with Istanbul.

The development is in combination with the bunkering firm’s current physical operations in Syros port, together with their traditional Piraeus physical operations which have been carried out for almost 50 years.

Related: SEKAVIN and GCL to strengthen marine fuel supply and logistics in key bunkering hubs

 

Photo credit: SEKAVIN
Published: 8 July 2025

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