Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

HSFO availability tight in the ARA and Gibraltar; Gibraltar’s Hi5 spread shrinks to just $12/mt; LSMGO availability tight in South African ports.

Published

1 year ago

September 14, 2023

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 tight in the ARA and Gibraltar
Gibraltar’s Hi5 spread shrinks to just $12/mt
LSMGO availability tight in South African ports

Northwest Europe

HSFO availability has tightened in Rotterdam and in the wider ARA hub again, sources say. Lead times of 5-6 days are recommended for the grade, while some suggest longer lead times of more than seven days to ensure full coverage from suppliers there.

Rotterdam’s HSFO price has come up from levels of $550/mt seen at the beginning of the month, to nearly $590/mt as of Wednesday. The price spike has largely been due to a recent resurgence in Brent values. However, some traders argue that HSFO prices have strengthened relative to other grades in the ARA and several other European bunker hubs after OPEC+’s key member Saudi Arabia announced it will extend its production cuts through to the end of the year.

Saudi Arabia, which mostly produces sour crude, has been implementing production cuts to stabilise Brent prices. Less access to sour crude has contributed to tighten HSFO supply further in the ARA and in major bunker ports in Europe.

Rotterdam’s HSFO price has surged by $160/mt since June, while its VLSFO price has increased by $115/mt. The price moves have significantly narrowed the port’s Hi5 spread, from $78/mt in June to just $32/mt now. A trader claims that some refineries in the ARA hub have been diverting more distillates to VLSFO blending, which has propped up supply and capped further price gains in Rotterdam.

ICE Gasoil futures remain in steep backwardation, with $37/mt between the front- and second-month contracts on Wednesday. A backwardated forward structure is usually a sign of fewer incentives to store products.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is said to be normal in the ARA hub. Lead times of 4-6 days are recommended for VLSFO, and 1-3 days for LSMGO. However, product loading delays at oil terminals still persist in the ARA, two sources say.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains normal for delivery off Skaw. Recommended lead times for both grades are around 7-10 days.

Mediterranean

HSFO availability has tightened a bit in Gibraltar, a source says. Lead times of 4-6 days are recommended for the grade. Some traders have been quoting HSFO at steep price levels. The grade was trading unusually high at around $625/mt on Wednesday, to keep the port’s Hi5 spread at just $12/mt.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is said to be normal across Gibraltar Strait ports. Lead times of 3-5 days are recommended for both grades.

Availability is also good for VLSFO and LSMGO in Las Palmas. A supplier can supply both grades with lead times of five days.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is good in the Portuguese ports of Lisbon and Sines.

Meanwhile, prompt availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is tight in other bunker delivery locations in the Mediterranean such as off Malta, Piraeus and Istanbul. Some suppliers can deliver stems for prompt dates in these locations, but deliveries are subject to firm enquiries, a source says.

Africa

LSMGO availability remains tight across the South African ports of Durban, Cape Town and Richards Bay. VLSFO availability is relatively better and lead times of up to seven days are recommended for the grade.

Bunkering was progressing normally in Algoa Bay on Wednesday, according to Rennies Ships Agency. However, strong wind gusts of up to 40 knots and heavy swells are forecast to hit the bay in periods between Thursday and Sunday, which could complicate deliveries there. 19 vessels are due to arrive for bunkers in Port Elizabeth and Algoa Bay over the course of the rest of the week, Rennies says.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is good in Mozambique’s Nacala and Maputo ports, a source says. HSFO is almost out of stock in Nacala, where a replenishment cargo is only expected to arrive after 28 September.

By Nithin Chandran

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 14 September, 2023

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Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (16 Jan 2025)

Prompt availability good in New York; rough weather in Houston causes delays; high wind gusts hit bunkering in Zona Comun.

Published

2 days ago

January 17, 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:

Prompt availability good in New York
Rough weather in Houston causes delays
High wind gusts hit bunkering in Zona Comun

North America

Bunker fuel availability in Houston remains tight across all grades. High winds over the last few days have created some backlogs by delaying bunker deliveries in the port. The situation is expected to remain the like this until 21 January.

An "Arctic Front will impact Houston area starting Saturday morning with high winds / cold temps [temperatures] and possible freeze," a source says. The pumping rates on barges are likely to be much lower than normal due to cold temperatures, the source adds.

There are enough supply volumes to go around in the port. That is not really the issue, a source says, the issue is more to get into suppliers' delivery schedules and for stems to be delivered without weather delays.

Bunker operations in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) could be disrupted by high wind gusts on and off until 20 January, with deliveries happening on a case-by-case basis. Operations are expected to resume fully between 16-18 January and then be suspended on 19 January, a source says.

On the East Coast, availability for VLSFO and LSMGO is good in New York, but bunker operations may face disruptions this week due to high wind gusts, causing potential delays in deliveries, a source said. Tugs are kept on standby for urgent requirements.

Last week, shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk had issued an advisory to its customers stating that the conditional agreement on US wages is set to expire on 15 January, possibly leading to a coast-wide strike on 16 January, if no agreement was reached by that date.

To clarify, bunker suppliers across US East Coast and Gulf Coast ports have not reported any disruptions from a workers' strike, and deliveries are underway, according to multiple sources.

Prompt bunker availability has improved in Los Angeles and Long Beach in January, with suppliers advising lead times of less than seven days for all fuel grades.

Caribbean and Latin America

Suppliers have seen strong demand in the Panamanian ports of Balboa and Cristobal, amid tight availability across most fuel grades. Suppliers require lead times of more than seven days to secure stems.

Suppliers in the Colombian ports of Santa Marta, Barranquilla and Cartagena have seen good demand, and tighter availability. January is the month with the highest demand, a source says.

Bunker operations at Argentina’s Zona Común anchorage may face some disruptions due to bad weather conditions and strong wind gusts between 17-19 January. Prompt VLSFO availability is tight at the anchorage, with lead times of at least seven days advised, a source said.

In Bahía Blanca, supply capacity has been reduced because of low barge availability since December. Bahía Blanca is a major wheat export hub.

Meanwhile, Brazilian ports reported strong demand in January, with ample availability across most fuel grades.

By Aparupa Mazumder

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 17 January, 2025

Bunker Fuel

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (16 January 2025)

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

Published

2 days ago

January 17, 2025

Admin

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (16 January 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

Rotterdam – Waalhaven – Maasvlakte range
Houston – Houston Harbor
Singapore – Anchorage, under SBA Scheme
Fujairah – Offshore Anchorage Area

Submitted weekly at Close of Business UK time, on Tuesday & Thursdays

Panellists:
Island Oil Limited, Cockett Marine Oil Pte, Monjasa A/S, KPI OceanConnect

Photo credit and source: Baltic Exchange
Published: 17 January, 2025

Bunker Fuel

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 5.2% on year in December 2024

4.79 million mt of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in December, a drop from 5.05 million mt recorded during the similar month in 2023.

Published

3 days ago

January 16, 2025

Admin

Sales of marine fuel at Singapore port decreased by 5.2% on year in December 2024, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) data.

In total, 4.79 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,790,030 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in December, a drop from 5.05 million mt (5,050,640 mt) recorded during the similar month in 2023.

Deliveries of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in December (against on year) recorded respectively 1.88 million mt (+3.9% from 1.81 million mt), 2.43 million mt (-14.4% from 2.84 million mt), zero (+100% from zero), 3,400 mt (-86.3% from 24,800 mt) and zero (from zero).

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Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in December (against on year) recorded respectively 12,000 (+100% from zero), 94,100 mt (+62.2% from 58,000 mt), zero (from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from zero).

LNG and methanol sales were posted respectively at 48,300 mt (+419.4% from 9,300) and zero (from zero).

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