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:

• VLSFO supply normal in the ARA
• Rough weather in Las Palmas
• LSMGO available again in Durban

Northwest Europe

Securing very prompt delivery dates for HSFO may be a challenge in the ARA. Lead times of around 5-7 days are advised, a trader told ENGINE. VLSFO and LSMGO availability is comparatively better, with recommended lead times of 3-5 days. 

The ARA hub’s independently held fuel oil stocks have increased by 9% so far this month compared to December, and are at their biggest since June 2024, according to Insights Global data.  

The region has imported 224,000 b/d of fuel oil so far this month, registering an increase from 161,000 b/d imported in December, according to data from cargo tracker Vortexa.

Saudi Arabia (29% of the total) has emerged as the region’s biggest fuel oil import source this month. The UK (19%), Poland (16%), Germany and Lithuania (8% each) and Algeria (5%) were other major import sources this month.

Meanwhile, the ARA's independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil - have surged by 16% to their highest since February 2021. It has imported 163,000 b/d of gasoil and diesel so far this month, down from 238,000 b/d imported in December, according to Vortexa data. 

In Germany’s Hamburg, all grades are well stocked, a trader told ENGINE. Recommended lead times are 3-5 days.

Mediterranean

Availability is normal in Gibraltar with lead times of around five days recommended for HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO, a trader said. Suppliers in the port are still grappling with a backlog of vessels from last week due to bad weather causing congestion, according to port agent MH Bland. Strong congestion is also reported at Algeciras’ inner anchorage, MH Bland said. Supplier delays are reported in both ports. 

Bad weather could hit bunkering in the Gibraltar Strait ports on Monday, according to a source. 

Bunkering has been partially suspended by strong winds gusts in Huelva since Monday. Barge deliveries can still take place in the anchorage area and a full restart is expected from Thursday, MH Bland says.

Rough weather is reported in the Canary Islands’ port of Las Palmas, a trader told ENGINE. Adverse weather is likely to continue until 30 January and trigger bunker disruptions, the trader said. This has stretched lead times for VLSFO, LSMGO and HSFO in Las Palmas to 7-10 days now.   

Meanwhile, low bunker demand is reported in other Mediterranean locations such as Piraeus, off Malta and Istanbul, according to a trader.  

Piraeus has normal availability for LSMGO and VLSFO, while HSFO is subject to enquiry, the trader said. Recommended lead times of around 3-5 days are recommended for optimal coverage. 

Bunkering is proceeding smoothly off Malta so far this week. Adverse weather triggered disruptions last week, but no backlogs have been reported, a source said. Around 3-5 days of lead time is advised for now, but that could soon change as inclement weather may hamper bunkering off Malta on Thursday and Friday. 

In Turkey’s Istanbul, bunker availability is good for all main fuel grades, a trader said. Suppliers can offer with lead times of 3-5 days.   

Africa

In the South African ports of Durban and Richards Bay, VLSFO supply is still tight with lead times of 7-10 days recommended. 

LSMGO supply has now resumed in Durban after suppliers in the port ran dry in the last week of December. But availability is still very tight, with recommended lead times of more than seven days for optimal coverage.

VLSFO, LSMGO and HSFO supply is normal in Mauritius’ Port Louis, a trader said. Suppliers are able to offer prompt delivery dates.

Off Namibia's Walvis Bay, VLSFO and LSMGO grades are well supplied and are high in demand, a source said. Demand is moderate for HSFO, and supply is running a bit tight. Lead times of around five days are recommended for all these grades.

By Manjula Nair

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 23 January, 2025

The following article regarding regional bunker fuel availability outlook for the East of Suez region has been provided by online marine fuels procurement platform ENGINE for publication on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

• VLSFO and HSFO availability tight in Singapore
• Availability good across all grades in Sri Lankan ports
• Bunker demand low in Fujairah

Singapore and Malaysia

VLSFO availability in Singapore remains tight, with standard lead times of 7-11 days. HSFO lead times are steady at 7-9 days, while LSMGO lead times have shortened to 5-7 days from 3-9 days last week.

According to Enterprise Singapore, residual fuel oil stocks in Singapore have averaged 7% lower this month compared to December, falling below 21 million bbls. This drop coincides with a 6% decline in net fuel oil imports in January. Fuel oil imports increased by 493,000 bbls, and exports surged by 793,000 bbls.

Middle distillate stocks in Singapore - which include gasoil - have averaged 13% lower so far this month.

At Malaysia’s Port Klang, VLSFO and LSMGO supplies are abundant, with prompt small-quantity deliveries readily available. HSFO supply, meanwhile, remains limited.

East Asia

In Zhoushan, lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO have increased from 3-5 days last week to 5-7 days now, while HSFO lead times remain steady at 5-7 days.

In northern China, Dalian and Qingdao ports maintain ample supplies of VLSFO and LSMGO, but Qingdao is experiencing limited HSFO availability. Tianjin faces tight supplies of both HSFO and VLSFO, while LSMGO availability remains stable.

In Shanghai, LSMGO is readily available, while supplies of VLSFO and HSFO are restricted. Fuzhou enjoys robust availability of both VLSFO and LSMGO, whereas Xiamen has strong VLSFO supply and limited LSMGO availability.

At Yangpu and Guangzhou, prompt deliveries of both VLSFO and LSMGO remain constrained.

The upcoming Chinese New Year holidays, from 28 January to 4 February, will result in reduced bunker activity at Chinese ports, as most suppliers will not accept new orders during this period. Stems should generally be booked by 24 January, ahead of the holiday, a source says.

In Hong Kong, lead times for all fuel grades remain steady at approximately seven days, unchanged from recent weeks. However, adverse weather conditions expected on Wednesday could disrupt bunker deliveries.

In Taiwan, VLSFO and LSMGO supplies remain stable at Hualien and Taichung ports, with lead times of about two days, unchanged from last week. In Keelung, a lead time of 2-3 days is recommended. At Kaohsiung, VLSFO lead times are around two days, but LSMGO deliveries remain difficult due to ongoing barge maintenance since late December.

Bunkering operations at several Taiwanese ports will be temporarily suspended during the Chinese New Year holidays from 28 January to 4 February. Keelung, Taichung and Suao ports will halt bunkering from 28-30 January, while Hualien port will be closed from 28-31 January. Bunkering at Kaohsiung port will continue as usual during the holidays, according to CPC Corporation.

Stems must generally be booked by 24 January ahead of the holiday period, a source reported.

All fuel grades remain readily available at South Korean ports, with several suppliers advising lead times of 3-6 days. However, intermittent rough weather expected over the weekend could disrupt bunkering operations at Ulsan, Onsan, Busan, Daesan, Taean and Yeosu.

In Japan, VLSFO is readily available at major ports, including Tokyo, Chiba, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Osaka, Kobe, Sakai, Nagoya and Yokkaichi, though prompt supply remains limited in Mizushima. LSMGO supplies are stable overall, but prompt deliveries are challenging to secure at Tokyo, Chiba, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Osaka, Kobe, Sakai, Nagoya, Yokkaichi and Mizushima.

HSFO availability is tight across all ports, while in Oita, all fuel grades are subject to availability.

Subic Bay in the Philippines may face intermittent inclement weather throughout the week, which could disrupt bunkering operations. Similarly, adverse weather is expected to impact bunkering in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City on 24-25 January, and in Hai Phong on 26 January.

Oceania

In Western Australia, Kwinana, Fremantle and Kembla ports have plentiful VLSFO and LSMGO supplies, with standard lead times of 7-8 days. In New South Wales, Sydney offers normal LSMGO availability, although HSFO may require extended lead times.

Suppliers in Australia's Victoria, Melbourne and Geelong maintain abundant VLSFO and LSMGO stocks, but prompt HSFO deliveries remain difficult to secure. In Queensland, Brisbane and Gladstone have adequate VLSFO and LSMGO supplies, also with lead times of 7-8 days, but HSFO availability in Brisbane is constrained.

In New Zealand, Tauranga and Auckland hold sufficient VLSFO stocks, with Auckland also offering ample LSMGO availability. However, rough weather forecast for Tauranga on Wednesday could disrupt bunker operations.

South Asia

VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains limited at several Indian ports, including Kandla, Mumbai, Tuticorin, Chennai and Cochin, consistent with recent weeks. Both grades are subject to availability at Visakhapatnam, while a supplier in Paradip and Haldia is nearly out of stock. Adverse weather conditions at Kandla and Sikka ports may disrupt bunker operations between 24-25 January.

In Sri Lanka, Colombo port recommends lead times of approximately six days for all grades, consistent with last week. At Hambantota, lead times for all grades have increased from about two days last week to around six days now.

Middle East

In Fujairah, prompt availability remains tight despite weak demand, with lead times for all grades holding steady at 5-7 days, unchanged from last week. Similarly, suppliers in Khor Fakkan are recommending lead times of 5-7 days for all grades.

In contrast, Jeddah port in Saudi Arabia has adequate supplies of both VLSFO and LSMGO. While VLSFO supply in Djibouti is under pressure, LSMGO is more readily available.

Omani ports, including Sohar, Salalah, Muscat and Duqm, have ample LSMGO supplies and prompt deliveries available.

By Tuhin Roy

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 22 January, 2025 

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

20 January 2025

Rotterdam's LNG bunker price has declined amid lower bunker premiums, while Singapore's price has dropped alongside weak demand in the broader Asian LNG market.

Changes in weekly LNG bunker prices:

• Rotterdam down by $11/mt to $852/mt
  Singapore down by $24/mt to $846/mt

Rotterdam

Rotterdam's LNG bunker price has dropped by $11/mt over the past week, reaching $852/mt. This decrease was mainly driven by a decline in LNG bunker premiums, which fell from approximately $145/mt to $113/mt.

However, this decrease contrasts with a rise in the front-month Dutch TTF Natural Gas contract, a key European gas market benchmark, which increased by $0.41/MMBtu ($21/mt) to $14.22/MMBtu ($739/mt) during the same period.

Singapore

Singapore's LNG bunker price has fallen by a steep $24/mt over the past week, reflecting weak LNG demand in northeast Asia. Its LNG bunker price premium of $7/mt over Rotterdam has reversed to a $6/mt discount within a week.

According to Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), LNG inventories for power generation reached 2.11 million mt, an increase of 240,000 mt from the previous week.

“Import demand among the big buyers has been weak, and some, like China, have been reselling their cargoes in the spot market,” said Emma Richards, associate director of oil and gas at research firm BMI.

Regional LNG bunker prices are generally linked to NYMEX Japan/Korea Marker (JKM) values. During the same period, the front-month JKM contract declined by $0.38/MMBtu to $13.78/MMBtu.

“JKM prices have actually softened a little in the year to date. The weather’s been relatively mild and stockpiles are healthy,” Richards added.

Singapore’s LNG bunker sales made massive gains last year, clocking in 464,000 mt sold. That was more than quadruple the 111,000 mt sold in 2023, which in turn was six times the 16,000 mt sold in 2022, when gas prices surged on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

By Tuhin Roy

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 21 January, 2025