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Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Suppliers and authorities still working to resolve Algoa Bay bunkering crisis – sources

With Algoa Bay temporarily inaccessible for offshore bunkering, ships are being diverted to alternative ports in its vicinity to bunker.

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Algoa Bay MarineTraffic / Bernd Bölscher

Offshore bunkering in Algoa Bay has been on hold since September, when the South African Revenue Service (SARS) detained bunker barges for customs duty irregularities.

It is still unclear how soon offshore bunkering could resume in Algoa Bay, one port agent told ENGINE. At this point, bunker suppliers and authorities are still negotiating to resolve the offshore bunkering crisis, the port agent added.

SARS has been conducting investigations into bunker compliance, and the bunker vessel detentions are part of the ongoing investigation, it said in a statement released in September. When contacted, the authority was unable to provide any new updates on the negotiations.

“Talks are continuing but [there is] no clarity as yet when operations will resume,” another port agent said.

With Algoa Bay temporarily inaccessible for offshore bunkering, ships are being diverted to alternative ports in its vicinity to bunker.

Bunker demand has increased in Mozambique’s Nacala and Maputo. HSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in Mozambique’s Nacala port, a source says. VLSFO supply is very tight in the port. The earliest delivery date with a supplier there is 17 November.

On the other hand, LSMGO availability is normal in Maputo, but barge availability has tightened there. VLSFO is also tight in Maputo, where a supplier can offer the earliest delivery on 10 November.

By Nithin Chandran

Related: ENGINE: Algoa Bay closure spurs surge in bunker calls at nearby ports
RelatedSouth African Revenue Service issues media statement on detention of bunkering vessels
RelatedENGINE: Algoa Bay bunkering at a standstill as authority detains barges – sources

Source: ENGINE
Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Bernd Bölscher
Published: 6 November 2023

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Alternative Fuels

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: Liquid fuel prices drop

VLSFO availability improves in Singapore; B100 cheaper than HSFO with EU regulations; LNG becomes costliest fuel option in Rotterdam.

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ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: Liquid fuel prices drop

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:

  • VLSFO availability improves in Singapore
  • B100 cheaper than HSFO with EU regs
  • LNG becomes costliest fuel option in Rotterdam

B100 (100% biofuel) is now $32/mt cheaper than HSFO in Rotterdam when factoring in EU ETS compliance costs and FuelEU pooling benefits for voyages between two EU ports.

EU regulations make liquid biomethane (LBM) $121/mt cheaper in Rotterdam than HSFO, but only if used in a diesel slow-speed (SS) marine engine with the lowest methane slip of 0.2%.

If the fuel is used in an Otto medium-speed engine with a 3.1% methane slip, LBM is actually $14/mt more expensive than HSFO, even with regulatory benefits.

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: Liquid fuel prices drop

Regardless of the engine type, Rotterdam's VLSFO-equivalent liquefied natural gas (LNG) benchmark is now more expensive than all conventional fuels.

Even when accounting for the EU ETS and FuelEU penalties and considering that the fuel is used in a diesel SS engine, the theoretical price of LNG remains $66/mt higher than VLSFO and only $1/mt cheaper than LSMGO.

Liquid fuels

Rotterdam's VLSFO-equivalent B100 price has declined by $66/mt, while Singapore’s price has dropped by $10/mt over the past week.

PRIMA Markets assessed the Dutch HBE rebate for B100 in Rotterdam at $369/mt on Friday, marking a $12/mt increase from the previous week.

Rotterdam’s VLSFO price has remained relatively stable, with only a modest $4/mt decline—smaller than the $7/mt drop seen in the front-month ICE Brent futures contract.

Singapore has seen a larger $16/mt drop, partly due to improved VLSFO availability. Recommended lead times for the grade have shortened from 7–11 days last week, to 4–8 days now.

Liquid gases

Rotterdam’s LNG price has climbed for a third week in a row, this time by $26/mt over the past week. This increase is linked to a 3% rise in the front-month Dutch TTF Natural Gas contract, a key European gas benchmark.

The Dutch TTF benchmark has risen due to increased demand due to colder weather and increased draws from underground gas reserves in Europe.

Singapore’s VLSFO-equivalent LNG price has also climbed by $12/mt in the past week. “The rise can be attributed to updated forecasts of colder weather in Japan and higher gas prices in Europe,” Rystad Energy said.

By Konica Bhatt

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 11 February, 2025

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Bunker Fuel Availability

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (6 Feb 2025)

Cold front to pass through the US Gulf Coast; prompt availability good in West Coast; strong wind gusts to cause Zona Comun delays.

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RESIZED ENGINE Americas

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:

  • Cold front to pass through the US Gulf Coast
  • Prompt availability good in West Coast
  • Strong wind gusts to cause Zona Comun delays

North America

Bunker fuel demand is good in Houston, and availability across all fuel grades is currently tight for prompt delivery dates. Several suppliers can offer VLSFO and LSMGO stems with a lead time of at least seven days.

There is plenty of supply volumes available at the port, a source notes. The real challenge, however, lies in aligning with suppliers’ delivery schedules and ensuring shipments aren’t delayed by adverse weather conditions. High wind gusts and an Arctic Front has caused major delays to bunker operations in the port lately.

A dense layer of fog has reduced visibility in US Gulf Coast ports, delaying bunker operations. “Dense fog [is] forecasted to be an issue this week in US,” a source says, adding that delays are expected around other ports and bunker locations, including Corpus Christi, Freeport, Galveston, Port Arthur, Lake Charles, New Orleans Outer Anchorage (NOLA), Mobile, Tampa and Pascagoula.

Fog conditions in the area depend heavily on wind directions. Southerly winds from the Gulf typically result in fog in the Houston area, while colder, northerly winds can keep visibility clearer.

Earlier this week, the Houston Pilot Association had suspended outbound sailings through the Houston Ship Channel due to dense fog observed throughout the region and Galveston Bay, with visibilities less than 1 nautical mile, another source says.

The channel is a vital waterway for ports in Houston, Galveston, Baytown and Texas City. It often faces closures during the US Gulf Coast’s winter season, which runs until March.

Bunker deliveries in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) are currently underway, although delays are expected. Operations may face further disruptions this week due to high wind gusts.

Suppliers in New York can offer VLSFO and LSMGO for prompt deliveries, a source says. HSFO is a bit tight and requires longer lead times. Bunker operations may face some delays in the East Coast port until 9 February due to high wind gusts, according to another source.

On the West Coast, Los Angeles and Long Beach have seen good availability across all fuel grades, with suppliers recommending lead times of 5-7 days for VLSFO and LSMGO.

High wind gusts may delay bunker deliveries in Canada’s Montreal port between 6-8 February. Barges at the port are only in operation during daylight hours at the moment.

Caribbean and Latin America

Bunker fuel availability for prompt dates has been on the tight side in the Panamanian ports of Balboa and Cristobal, with the latter having relatively fewer barges.

Vessel transits have slowed in Balboa lately, a source says. Lead times of around 9-10 days are required for prompt VLSFO deliveries in Balboa.

The Colombian ports of Santa Marta, Barranquilla and Cartagena have seen good demand and tightening availability. January and February are the months with the highest demand, a source says.

Prompt VLSFO availability is tight at Argentina’s Zona Comun anchorage, where a recent bout of high wind gusts delayed barge reloadings and bunker deliveries. Seven days of lead time is advised.

Prolonged delays are expected at the anchorage over the weekend. Strong wind gusts forecast between 6-8 February may suspend deliveries.

By Aparupa Mazumder

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 7 February, 2025

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Bunker Fuel

Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (6 February 2025)

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

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Baltic Exchange: Bunker Report (6 February 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: 7 February, 2025

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