Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability

HSFO supply improves in northwest Europe; HSFO very tight in Gibraltar; Algoa Bay bunkering comes to a standstill.

Published

3 years ago

September 28, 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 supply improves in northwest Europe
HSFO very tight in Gibraltar
Algoa Bay bunkering comes to a standstill

Northwest Europe

HSFO availability is said to be normal in Rotterdam and the rest of the ARA, a source says. Availability of the high-sulphur grade has improved now, but securing stems on very prompt dates (0-2 days) can still be difficult, a trader says. Lead times of 5-7 days are recommended for grade to ensure full coverage from suppliers, a source says.

VLSFO has been in ample supply in the ARA hub, two sources say. Unlike HSFO, the low-sulphur grade is much easier to secure for prompt delivery dates.

Rotterdam’s Hi5 spread was pegged around $27/mt on Wednesday, which was only a third of where it was in June last year. It has been lingering below $50/mt for the past three months.

Some argue that production cuts from Saudi Arabia have reduced access to sour crude and supported HSFO prices in the ARA. This could contribute to keep the Hi5 spread from moving above $50/mt for the rest of the year, a trader says.

Lead times of 4-6 days are recommended for VLSFO, and 1-3 days for LSMGO in Rotterdam and in the wider ARA hub.

Availability of HSFO has shown signs of improvement in several northwest European ports, a source says. At least three suppliers in the German port of Hamburg have sufficient HSFO stocks available, the source adds. VLSFO and LSMGO supply is also good, with lead times of up to five days recommended in Hamburg.

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 been tight in Gibraltar since the start of the month. Two in three suppliers are almost out of stock, and expect replenishment cargoes to arrive by 6 October, a source says. One supplier has limited HSFO stocks available and can only deliver stems on a case-to-case basis. These are usually priced higher. The supplier expects to receive a replenishment cargo by 15 October.

Lead times of 7-12 days are recommended for HSFO in Gibraltar, up from 4-6 days last week. The port’s Hi5 spread momentarily slipped into rare negative territory on Tuesday, before flipping back to positive on Wednesday.

The narrowing of Gibraltar’s Hi5 spread has diminished fuel cost savings against VLSFO for scrubber-fitted vessels. It could potentially dent HSFO sales in the port.

In nearby Las Palmas, the Hi5 spread has shrunk to just $8/mt. Its HSFO price was trading at near parity levels to Gibraltar on Wednesday, erasing its $36/mt premium over Gibraltar’s HSFO in the past week.

Limited HSFO supply in the region has narrowed Hi5 spreads across several Mediterranean ports.

Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO availability is tight in Ceuta. One in two suppliers is fully committed for the remaining days left in this month, and the other supplier has its earliest delivery dates from 5 October. Meanwhile, availability of both grades is relatively better in Gibraltar and Algeciras. Lead times of 5-7 days are recommended there.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal In the Portuguese ports of Lisbon and Sines, a source says. LSMGO availability is also good in the Spanish port of Tarragona, where one supplier can deliver the grade by trucks from 4 October.

Other bunker delivery locations in the Mediterranean such as off Malta, Piraeus and Istanbul have normal availability of VLSFO and LSMGO, sources say, while HSFO is tighter.

Africa

South African authorities have detained all bunker barges in Algoa Bay, two port agents have told ENGINE. This comes after the South African Revenue Service (SARS) detained five bunker barges over import duty disputes earlier this month. Since then, only one supplier has been able to operate its barges.

All operations have now been cancelled and all barges detained in the bay.

Offshore bunkering has completely stopped, one of the agents said. It seems that some backchannel talks are being held to resolve the crisis, but so far, no official confirmation has been made, the port agent added.

SARS has been conducting investigations into bunker compliance, and the bunker vessel detentions are part of an investigation, it said in a statement released last week. The South African authority has called the detentions “lawful” as the investigation is still ongoing.

By Nithin Chandran

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 28 September, 2023

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Bunker Fuel

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (13 August 2026)

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

Published

2 days ago

August 14, 2026

Admin

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

Screenshot 2026 08 14 at 1.23.10 PM

Screenshot 2026 08 14 at 1.23.22 PM

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: 14 August, 2026

Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Americas Fuel Availability Outlook (13 August 2026)

Prompt fuel availability tight at Houston; VLSFO, LSMGO availability tightens in Santos; Zona Comun demand steady.

Published

2 days ago

August 14, 2026

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 fuel availability tight at Houston
VLSFO, LSMGO availability tightens in Santos
Zona Comun demand steady

North America

Bunker fuel demand in Houston is firm, with prompt availability tight across all three conventional fuel grades of HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO.

Suppliers are recommending lead times of around 5–7 days, a bunker trader tells ENGINE.

Weather conditions across the US Gulf Coast are normal, with no major disruptions from the ongoing hurricane season.

In the nearby Bolivar Roads, limited prompt availability has been observed.

One supplier has been able to offer VLSFO stems within 4–6 days over the past week, and typical lead times in the area generally remain above five days, a trader said.

Deliveries at the anchorage continue to be subject to weather conditions and are currently being handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

In Mobile, the earliest delivery date for VLSFO is currently indicated between 18-19 August.

The Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) is expected to face minor weather-related disruptions through 15 August due to strong wind gusts and high seas.

In New York, bunker demand is strong, and availability is decent for LSMGO and VLSFO deliveries, with lead times ranging between 4-7 days.

HSFO is expected to tighten a bit, and requires notice of at least seven days, this week, a trader said.

Weather conditions at the port are normal, and no congestion or weather-related disruptions are expected through the end of the week.

Across the US West Coast, bunker availability is a bit tight, with buyers advised to secure stems in advance to avoid delays, a bunker trader tells ENGINE.

In the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, HSFO and LSMGO typically have required around 7–9 days notice in the past week.

VLSFO is more constrained, with lead times of 9–11 days. The earliest delivery dates for VLSFO with most suppliers are currently indicated from around 21-22 August onwards.

Availability in Canada’s Vancouver is good for HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO this week, a source said. Lead times for the three fuel grades are between 4-7 days.

Latin America and the Caribbean

In Panama, bunker demand is steady, and availability is normal, a trader tells ENGINE.

Recommended lead times at the ports of Balboa and Cristobal for VLSFO and LSMGO stand at around 3–6 days. HSFO availability is relatively tighter, with most suppliers requiring 5–7 days’ lead time.

In the Bahamas’ Freeport, at least one supplier is offering HSFO and LSMGO with lead times of around 6–7 days.

Off Trinidad, bunkering operations may face disruptions due to high wind gusts and rough seas through 15 August. Delays are expected and will depend on supply vessel conditions at the time of delivery, a source said.

In Colombia, bunker availability at the ports of Cartagena, Santa Marta and Barranquilla is good, with the earliest delivery dates for VLSFO and LSMGO indicated at 3–4 days, a trader said.

In Brazil, Santos is seeing tighter availability for both VLSFO and LSMGO, with suppliers recommending lead times of around 7–10 days to secure deliveries.

Across other key Brazilian ports, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Belém, Salvador and Vila do Conde, supply conditions are okay. Both grade require between 5–8 days of lead time, a source said.

Paranaguá continues to show tighter VLSFO and LSMGO availability, with lead times of about 6–8 days.

In Argentina’s Zona Comun, bunker demand is steady, with normal availability. Recommended lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO are around 5–7 days. However, delays are expected at the anchorage due to high wind gusts.

By Gautamee Hazarika

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 14 August, 2026

Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (12 August 2026)

Prompt availability tight in the Gibraltar Strait; barge availability issues in Piraeus; 4-5 days of lead time required in Luanda.

Published

3 days ago

August 13, 2026

Admin

Prompt availability tight in the Gibraltar Strait
Barge availability issues in Piraeus
4-5 days of lead time required in Luanda

Northwest Europe

Bunker fuel availability is tight for prompt supplies in the ARA, with buyers advised lead times of 5-7 days to get good coverage from suppliers, a trader said.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have averaged 10% higher so far in August compared to July, according to Insights Global data.

The ARA hub imported 457,000 b/d of fuel oil in the first week of August, a sharp increase from July’s monthly average of 159,000 b/d, according to Vortexa cargo data. Benin (35%) was the biggest import source, followed by Venezuela (19%) and Colombia (17%).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories – which include diesel and heating oil – dropped by 9% in the first week of August, compared to July, according to the Insights Global data. The gasoil inventories fell to their lowest level in just over four years.

The region has imported 228,000 b/d of gasoil this month, a considerable rise from 119,000 b/d imported across June, according to Vortexa data. The majority of volumes arrived from the US (23%), Sweden (21%) and France (10%).

Bunker availability is normal in Germany’s Hamburg, and supply of any fuel grade can be secured within five days, a trader told ENGINE.

Availability is tight off Denmark’s Skaw and in Sweden’s Gothenburg, with buyers recommended lead times of 10 days for any fuel grade, according to a trader.

Mediterranean

Availability is tight in Gibraltar Strait ports, with buyers recommended lead times of around 7-10 days to get competitive offers from a wide selection of suppliers, a trader said.

Buyers looking to bunker in Barcelona are advised to book a week ahead of delivery, a trader said.

In Las Palmas, fuel availability is tight for prompt supplies, and buyers are advised lead times of 10-12 days for HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries, a trader told ENGINE.

VLSFO fuel availability is tight off Malta, with buyers recommended seven days of lead time, a trader said. ULSFO supply requires about six days of notice, while LSMGO is available with a more prompt lead time of 2-5 days.

Prompt fuel availability is tight in Greece’s Piraeus. Buyers looking for HSFO, VLSFO, LSMGO and ULSFO supplies are advised to book with a lead time of around 5-7 days, a trader said. Suppliers are facing tight barge availability in the port, a source told ENGINE.

Fuel availability is good in Türkiye’s Istanbul, a local supplier said. Buyers looking to bunker in the port are recommended a notice of four days for VLSFO and 1-3 days for LSMGO and ULSFO supplies, a trader said.

Africa

HSFO availability is tight in most African ports, with suppliers reporting very limited availability.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is tight for prompt delivery dates in Lome and off Walvis Bay, a trader said. Buyers are advised to book deliveries at least seven days in advance, the trader told ENGINE.

VLSFO deliveries at the Lagos anchorage require 5-7 days’ notice, a local supplier told ENGINE.

In Angola’s Luanda, buyers are advised to book VLSFO and LSMGO supplies with a lead time of 4-5 days, a supplier said.

Prompt VLSFO availability is tight off Algoa Bay, with buyers advised at least 5-7 days’ notice, a trader said.

Bunker availability is tight in Port Louis, with suppliers quoting their earliest delivery dates 10-14 days out for VLSFO and LSMGO, a trader said.

By Nachiket Tekawade

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 13 August, 2026