The following article regarding global bunker fuel availability has been provided by online marine fuels procurement platform ENGINE for publication on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:
27 August 2021
– Bunker operations restart in Busan & Ulsan
– Shorter lead times in Fujairah
– Zhoushan’s HSFO & VLSFO remain tight
Singapore’s fuel oil stocks dropped to their lowest levels since late February 2021, data from Singapore Enterprise showed this week. Fuel oil inventories fell by 4% on the week to 25 August reaching a six-month low of 21.18 million bbls.
Lead times remain steady for fuel oils in Singapore, with 7-9 days recommended for VLSFO and HSFO supply, while LSMGO continues to be more readily available at 4-5 days ahead.
Singapore’s Hi5 spread has gained $3-4/mt since Monday, averaging at $103/mt. The price difference between HSFO380 and VLSFO is however steady on the week, and before Brent plunged to monthly lows of $65/bbl.
Typhoon Omais disrupted bunkering operations in South Korea’s southern coast ports on Monday this week, bringing heavy rains and strong winds. The ports of Busan and Ulsan were forced to close on Monday, halting their operations as Typhoon Omais made landfall in southern South Korea.
The weather improved late on Wednesday allowing operations to restart in the two ports, with suppliers working through the backlog. Bunker supply for the rest of August is not ensured, with earliest delivery dates rolling to 1 September in the country’s southern ports for VLSFO.
Western Japanese ports were also affected by Typhoon Omais this week, disrupting bunkering operations in the region. As a result, barge availability has tightened significantly in the country’s western ports with earliest delivery date now being 10 days away.
Bunker fuel availability recently improved in Tokyo Bay with all three fuel grades being readily available. Lead times have now dropped to 4-5 days for HSFO380, VLSFO and LSMGO, compared with 7-8 days recommended in July.
Japan’s total fuel oil stocks have moderately dropped by 1% on the week, data from the Petroleum Association of Japan showed. The country did not import any fuel oil on the week to 21 August, while HSFO exports surged by 91% to a four-week high of 467,000 bbls. LSFO exports saw a smaller 41,000 bbl rise on the week.
The Meishan terminal at Ningbo-Zhoushan reopened on Wednesday, after it closed down to all inbound and outbound traffic due to a port worker testing positive for Covid-19 in the port two weeks ago. Vessels have started berthing in the terminal as cargo operations have resumed in the port, but with bunkering operations still not allowed in the terminal.
Zhoushan’s HSFO380 and VLSFO remain in tight supply, with replenishment of both expected towards the end of the month. LSMGO is the only fuel grade workable in the Chinese port at the moment.
Fujairah’s lead times have slightly dropped on the week to stand at 7 days now, down from up to 9 days last week.
Fuel oil stocks fell by 11% to their lowest levels since late March, according to data from Fujairah OilIndustry Zone and S&P Global Platts data.
High sulphur fuel oil has tightened in Gibraltar straits ports this week, as there is not enough product available in the market. Two suppliers are advising earliest delivery dates from 2 September onwards, while one could potentially supply on an earlier notice. 3-4 days are recommended for
HSFO380 in the Gibraltar straits to ensure timely delivery. At the same time, HSFO380 seems to be more readily available in Las Palmas, even though one of the two suppliers in the port has been dried out of high sulphur fuel oil.
Bunker fuels remain ample for all three grades in ARA ports, without any supply shortage issues. Three days are still recommended for HSFO380 in the region to ensure timely supply, while low sulphur fuel oils could be procured at shorter notice.
Photo credit: ENGINE
Published: 27 August, 2021
Discusses business operations, potential debt reorganisation and winding up petitions, and financial review.
Development mainly attributable to the right strategy of expanding products line to bunker marine fuel oil, and acquisition of two additional bunker tankers.
Requests European Commission to investigate fair competition violation of shipping firms.
Company’s services can meet the demands of maritime companies, tourism ships, domestic freight and passenger transportation, says its Maritime Sales Director.
While the new regulation applies to ships, measuring efficiency becomes complex as the charterer usually holds the key to improving operational efficiency.
The remote session was attended by more than 350 participants from some 70 Member States, as well as from NGOS in consultative status with IMO from 18 to 22 October.
PetroSeraya appoints YTL PowerSeraya veteran See Yoong Hwee to drive its fuel tank leasing operations; together with Rafe Liam as Commercial Manager, they will spearhead the company’s initiatives.
‘This biofuel bunker delivery represents a new chapter for Eng Hua as we are now moving with the times towards the era of decarbonisation,’ Mike Sin, Director at Eng Hua, tells bunkering publication Manifold Times.
MPA has also asked Glencore to improve its internal procedures to ensure that prompt action is taken in future when it becomes aware of, or reasonably suspects, any irregularity in fuel quality, it states.
Dynamic Asset Investments Limited and Goldsland Holdings Co Ltd helped Vermont UM Bunkering maintain a “Cash Float” of about SGD 100,000 to facilitate “buyback” bunker transactions at Singapore port.
Senior Cargo Officer gained SGD 48,800 worth of commission from “buyback” bunker transactions and illegally obtained SGD 410,712.257 by cheating Vermont, a Singapore court heard on Thursday (21 July).
Firm hopes to leverage partnership in Greece as a springboard to expand into neighbouring and overseas markets including Europe and China, says Robin Van Elderen, Regional Head Bunkers, Europe, Sing Fuels.
