Bunker Fuel

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: LNG costlier than VLSFO

Singapore’s VLSFO price is cheaper than LNG; LNG approaches parity with VLSFO in Rotterdam; price gap between biofuel and LNG shrinks.

Published

8 months ago

May 28, 2024

Admin

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: LNG costlier than VLSFO

Once a week, bunker intelligence platform ENGINE will publish a snapshot of alternative and conventional bunker fuel prices in the world’s two biggest bunkering hubs. The following is the latest snapshot:

27 May 2024

Singapore’s VLSFO price is cheaper than LNG
LNG approaches parity with VLSFO in Rotterdam
Price gap between biofuel and LNG shrinks

LNG bunker benchmarks in Rotterdam and Singapore continue to rise sharply.

With estimated EU Allowance (EUA) costs included in bunker fuel costs, Singapore's LNG bunker price has surged $34-37/mt in the past week after a $29-30/mt jump the week prior.

After adjusting the price for calorific contents to become VLSFO-equivalent, Singapore's LNG price has flipped to a premium of $29-36/mt over its VLSFO in the past week, from a $30-36 discount noted a week prior.

Rotterdam's fossil LNG bunker price has closed even further on VLSFO by $33-34/mt over the past week, making it only $20-33/mt cheaper than VLSFO now.

Biofuel price premium in Singapore over fossil LNG has dropped by another $61-62/mt to $75-81/mt in the past week. In Rotterdam, the bio-bunker premium over LNG has narrowed by $11/mt to $156-168/mt.

VLSFO

Rotterdam's VLSFO price has mostly followed Brent's downward movement over the past week. Rotterdam’s VLSFO benchmark has declined by $11-18/mt in the past week, depending on whether the estimated EUA costs are included.

Availability of VLSFO is normal in Rotterdam, with lead times of 3-5 days recommended to ensure full coverage from suppliers, a trader said.

Singapore’s VLSFO benchmark has also tracked Brent’s movement, falling $32/mt over the past week.

Lead times for VLSFO in Singapore have exhibited significant fluctuations recently. Most suppliers now recommend lead times of up to 10 days for this grade, while some can accommodate stems within five days.

Biofuels

Rotterdam’s B24-VLSFO HBE bunker price has inched $5/mt higher in the past week. When we add estimated EUA costs, the price has gained $8-10/mt, depending on whether we are looking at voyages between EU ports or between EU ports and non-EU ports.

A huge gain in the price of palm oil mill effluent methyl ester (POMEME) feedstock – qualified for Dutch HBE rebates – has pushed the price higher. PRIMA-assessed POMEME price in the ARA has jumped by $70/mt to $1,368/mt in the past week.

In contrast, Singapore’s B24-VLSFO UCOME bunker price has slumped by $25-28/mt, depending on whether the price is adjusted with estimated EUA costs.

The price has declined amid a $10/mt drop in UCOME FOB China, according to PRIMA Markets. Chinese biodiesel exports to the EU are being investigated by the European Commission for "unfairly traded biodiesel". The ongoing investigation has dented Chinese biodiesel inflows into European countries.

LNG

Rotterdam and Singapore’s LNG bunker prices have seen significant upticks in the past week.

Rotterdam’s LNG bunker benchmark has climbed $16-22/mt higher, depending on whether estimated EU ETS costs are included in the cost of fuel. This increase has been driven by the underlying front-month NYMEX Dutch TTF Natural Gas benchmark, which has seen an uptick due to heavy maintenance activities at Norwegian gas facilities.

Singapore’s LNG bunker benchmark has risen by a staggering $34-37/mt in the past week. The movement is influenced by the upward trend in the underlying Japan/Korea Marker (JKM) gas benchmark and prevailing trends in the Asian LNG market.

Analysts at ANZ Bank noted that “the rally in global gas prices continued amid ongoing buying from importers.” Importers such as Japan and South Korea are restocking gas inventories ahead of the Northern Hemisphere summer, further driving demand.

By Konica Bhatt

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 28 May 2024

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China: Ningbo Zhoushan Port completes first LNG bunkering operation for 2025

Bunkering vessel “Hai Yang Shi You 302” supplied more than 10,000 cubic metres of LNG bunker fuel to containership “MSC Adya” at the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port port on 5 January.

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China: Ningbo Zhoushan Port completes first LNG bunkering operation for 2025

Zhejiang Pilot Free Trade Zone Zhoushan Area on Wednesday (8 January) said Ningbo-Zhoushan Port successfully completed its first LNG bunkering operation for the year.

Bunkering vessel Hai Yang Shi You 302 supplied more than 10,000 cubic metres (m3) of LNG bunker fuel to containership MSC Adya at the port on 5 January.

Zhejiang Seaport International Trading, the bunker supplier for the operation, successfully obtained the Zhoushan Anchorage LNG bunkering licence in June 2024, extending refuelling services from dock to sea.

The company’s services cover Meishan, Chuanshan, Daxie and other port areas.

As China's first river-sea LNG transport and bunkering ship, Hai Yang Shi You is currently placed permanently at Ningbo Zhoushan Port, providing a variety of bunkering methods such as ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore.

Zhejiang Seaport International Trading will continue to expand the scope of bonded LNG bunkering operations and new alternative fuels such as green methanol, ammonia and biofuels in the Zhoushan Area.

Photo credit: Zhejiang Pilot Free Trade Zone Zhoushan Area
Published: 10 January, 2025

Business

US DoD designates COSCO Shipping and CNOOC as ‘Chinese military companies’

COSCO Shipping has responded that the company and its subsidiaries ‘have consistently adhered to local laws and regulations, maintaining strict compliance in all international operations’.

Published

3 days ago

January 10, 2025

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China: Cosco Shipping and bp to explore collaboration into methanol bunker fuel

The US Department of Defense (DoD) on Tuesday (7 January) has added China’s state-owned shipping company COSCO Shipping and two of its subsidiaries to its list of companies for allegedly having links to the Chinese military.

The subsidiaries are COSCO SHIPPING (North America) and COSCO SHIPPING Finance.

DoD released the update to the names of "Chinese military companies" operating directly or indirectly in the United States in accordance with the statutory requirement of Section 1260H of the National Defense Authorisation Act for Fiscal Year 2021. The Department said it will update the list with additional entities as appropriate.

Updating the Section 1260H list of "Chinese military companies" is an important continuing effort in highlighting and countering the People’s Republic of China's (PRC) Military-Civil Fusion strategy, DOD added.

The list also included other Chinese shipping-related companies such as shipbuilders China Shipbuilding Trading and China State Shipbuilding Corporation, oil company China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), CNOOC China and CNOOC International Trading.

Shipping container manufacturer China International Marine Containers (CIMC) was also included on the list of companies.

In a response to the move, COSCO Shipping said it has noted the recent inclusion of the company and its subsidiaries to the sanctions list.

“COSCO Shipping and its subsidiaries have consistently adhered to local laws and regulations, maintaining strict compliance in all international operations,” it said on its website.

“We remain committed to facilitating global trade and providing high-quality commercial shipping and logistics services to clients worldwide, including agricultural producers, manufacturers, energy firms, retailers, and exporters in the United States.”

“We emphasise that none of the aforementioned companies are ‘Chinese military companies’. We will engage with U.S. authorities to clarify this matter. This designation does not impose sanctions or export controls, and our global operations will continue uninterrupted.”

Photo credit: COSCO Shipping
Published: 10 January, 2025

Nuclear

VARD and partners team up to explore nuclear propulsion for shipping

Project, which involves Knutsen Tankers and DNV, will evaluate fourth-generation nuclear reactor technologies for their viability in commercial shipping applications.

Published

3 days ago

January 10, 2025

Admin

VARD and partners team up in project to explore nuclear propulsion for shipping

Norway-based shipbuilder VARD on Friday (3 January) said it has partnered with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Ålesund, Norway and other key stakeholders in the NuProShip I project, which explores nuclear propulsion for the maritime sector.

NuProShip, short for "Nuclear Propulsion in Shipping," will evaluate fourth-generation nuclear reactor technologies for their viability in commercial shipping applications.

In this project, an extensive assessment of 99 companies developing advanced reactor technologies led to the selection of three promising reactor types:

Kairos Power (USA): Fluoride high-temperature molten salt reactor using Tri-structural Isotropic (TRISO) fuel particles, designed for robust and efficient operation.
Ultrasafe (USA): Helium-cooled gas reactor, also employing TRISO fuel particles, known for their resilience and safety in extreme conditions.
Blykalla (Sweden): Lead-cooled reactor concept utilizing uranium oxide as fuel, offering high efficiency with advanced cooling mechanisms.

VARD said TRISO fuel particles, noted for their durability and containment properties, play a crucial role in two of these reactor types.

“TRISO technology in fact, is renowned as one of the most resilient nuclear fuel types available today,” it added.

Alongside VARD, the NuProShip project is supported by other partners, including DNV, the Norwegian Maritime Administration, ship owner Knutsen Tankers, and the Spanish nuclear consultancy IDOM.

VARD’s primary contribution involves integrating these reactor systems into various vessel types, assessing the technical challenges to enable the future commercial use of nuclear-powered ships.

Photo credit: VARD
Published: 10 January, 2025