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

2 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

Singapore: Bunker sales volume raises to year record high of 4.88 million mt in May

Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil jumped 671.7% to 40,900 mt when compared to figures seen in May 2024.

Published

2 days ago

June 16, 2025

Admin

Bunker fuel sales at Singapore port inched forward by 1.1% on year in May 2025, the highest volume seen in 2025, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) data.

In total, 4.88 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,878,100 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in April, up from 4.83 million mt (4,826,800 mt) recorded during the similar month in 2024.

Deliveries of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in May (against on year) recorded respectively 1.89 million mt (+8.6% from 1.74 million mt), 2.45 million mt (-7.2% from 2.64 million mt), 1,200 mt (from zero), 1,700 mt (-88% from 14,300 mt) and zero (from zero).

SG bunker port performance May 2025

Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in May (against on year) recorded respectively 40,900 mt (+671.7% from 5,300 mt), 95,800 mt (+97.9% from 48,400 mt), 700 mt (from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from 300 mt). B100 biofuel bunkers, introduced in February this year, recorded 1,900 mt of deliveries in May.

LNG and methanol sales were respectively 45,000 mt (-7.8% from 48,800) and zero (from 1,600 mt). There were no recorded sales of ammonia for the month and so far in 2025.

A complete series of articles on Singapore bunker volumes reported by Manifold Times tracked since 2018 can be found via the link here.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 16 June 2025

Bunker Fuel

Panama bunker sales volume up 13.9% on year to 453,397 mt in May 2025

Total bunker sales at Panama was 453,397 metric tonnes (mt) in May 2025, compared to sales of 398,964 mt during the similar period in 2024.

Published

2 days ago

June 16, 2025

Admin

Bunker fuel sales at Panama increased by 13.9% in May 2025, according to the latest data from La Autoridad Maritima de Panama, also known as the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA).

Total bunker sales at Panama was 453,397 metric tonnes (mt) in May 2025, compared to sales of 398,964 mt during the similar period in 2024.

In May 2025, the Pacific side of Panama posted bunker sales of 368,419 mt; 213,589 mt of VLSFO, 117,297 mt of RMG 380, 1,538 of marine gas oil (MGO), and 35,995 mt of low sulphur marine gas oil (LSMGO) were delivered.

The similar region saw total marine sales of 323,084 mt a year before in May; with VLSFO sales at 184,761 mt, RMG 380 sales at 112,011 mt, MGO sales at 2,199 mt, and 24,113 mt of LSMGO being sold.

Panama’s Atlantic side, meanwhile, recorded total bunker fuel sales of 84,978 during May 2025; the figure comprised 63,318 mt of VLSFO, 8,575 mt of RMG 380, 1,987 mt of MGO, and 11,098 mt of LSMGO.

It saw total sales of 74,980 mt in May a year before; with VLSFO sales of 59,855 mt, RMG 380 sales of 6,508 mt, 1,545 mt of MGO, and LSMGO sales of 7,072 mt.

Photo credit: George Keel
Published: 16 June 2025

Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (12 June 2025)

Bunker demand in Houston remains weak; Argentina authorised voluntary use of biofuels; VLSFO availability in Zona Comun improves.

Published

5 days ago

June 13, 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:

Bunker demand in Houston remains weak
Argentina authorised voluntary use of biofuels
VLSFO availability in Zona Comun improves

North America

Bunker demand in Houston remains weak across all fuel grades. Both VLSFO and LSMGO are readily available, with recommended lead times of 3–5 days. HSFO is also stocked, though prompt deliveries may face delays due to barge congestion, requiring lead times of at least 7 days and above.

In the last 24 hours, 77 vessels have arrived at the port, and 122 more are expected over the next 30 days.

The US Gulf region has entered its hurricane season, which will last through 30 November.

“This is likely to bring bouts of bad weather that could disrupt bunkering operations, particularly around the Bolivar Roads anchorage,” a source noted.

In Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA), deliveries are suspended due to high seas and are likely to remain so until the afternoon of 13 June.

Bunker operations are being carried out on a first-come, first-served basis, where weather conditions allow.

In New York, bunker demand remains good. All fuel grades are available at the port for prompt delivery, with suppliers recommending lead times of around 5 days.

High wind gusts are forecast between 12–13 June at the port, which could lead to disruptions. No backlog congestion or barge readiness issues are currently reported.

Both bunker fuel availability and demand at the Port of Los Angeles remain steady. Suppliers say they can deliver all the fuel grades in less than 7 days.

While importers have been frontloading cargo in anticipation of the upcoming end to the tariff pause, according to the Port of Los Angeles’ Port Optimizer, import volumes declined during the week between 8–14 June, reaching 94,692 TEUs from 17 scheduled vessel calls.

This represents a 5.82% drop from the previous week and an 18.98% decrease year-on-year.

However, volumes are expected to rebound in Week 25, i.e, 15-21 June, with 121,916 TEUs expected from 22 scheduled vessels. This reflects a 28.75% week-on-week increase and a significant 41.27% rise year-on-year (YoY).

Rising tariffs and ongoing uncertainty in US-China relations have significantly slowed the movement of goods, impacting jobs, businesses, and local economies in tangible ways.

Data from the Chinese government revealed that exports to the US plummeted by 35% YoY in May — the sharpest decline since the early 2020 trade freeze during Covid lockdowns. This followed a 21% drop in April.

In Canada’s Montreal, bunker operations may face disruptions on 12 June due to high wind gusts. Barge services operate only during daylight hours, and delays at anchorage are possible.

Latin America and the Caribbean

The market is still very quiet in Panama. All fuel grades in Balboa and Cristobal can be supplied within 5-7 days.

In Balboa, from 12-16 June, high winds and thunderstorms may disrupt bunkering. Deliveries operate on a first-come first serve basis, with priority given to vessels with confirmed Panama Canal transit slots.

Ongoing drought conditions are still affecting transit through the Panama Canal, causing delays in vessel movements, especially for ships with deeper drafts.

In the Bahamas’ Freeport and St. Eustatius, no weather disruptions are expected. Deliveries are being made at the anchorage, with cruise ships receiving priority. No barge congestion is reported.

In Trinidad Offshore, from 12-16 June, high wind gusts and high seas could impact bunker deliveries. No barge readiness congestion has been reported at the moment.

Argentina has authorised the voluntary use of biofuels or biofuel blends for river and sea vessels, as long as their engines are compatible.

To support this, the government has introduced a new “Bunker Operator” category in its official registry. Companies supplying marine biofuels must now register and follow certain rules, helping ensure proper handling, safety, and fuel quality.

The anticipated increase in Argentina’s maize production and export volumes is also expected to drive higher vessel traffic at key ports, which could in turn boost bunker fuel demand and impact delivery schedules, another source informed.

VLSFO availability in Zona Comun has significantly increased, with lead times now at 5-6 days, down from the typical 10-12 days.

High wind gusts are expected from 12-16 June, and if wind speeds exceed 20 knots, bunker deliveries will be suspended, the port authorities said.

Bunker fuel supply continues to be stable across key Brazilian ports, including Santos, Rio de Janeiro, and Rio Grande, with VLSFO and LSMGO available for prompt delivery. HSFO is not supplied at these ports. Recommended lead times are around 5–7 days.

Operations at the Port of Santos remain affected by congestion, though conditions are expected to ease in the next few days.

Meanwhile, bunker availability in Colombia’s Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Santa Marta ports also remains good, with recommended lead times of 2–3 days, according to a source.

By Gautamee Hazarika

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 13 June 2025