Business

JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (October 2022)

China’s bonded bunker fuel sales maintained downtrend in October, as overall demand in bonded bunker fuel market slackened further due to epidemic.

Published

2 years ago

November 10, 2022

Admin

Beijing-based commodity market information provider JLC Network Technology Co. recently shared its JLC China Bunker monthly report for October 2022 with Manifold Times through an exclusive arrangement:

Bunker Fuel Demand

China’s bonded bunker fuel sales still drop in Oct

China’s bonded bunker fuel sales maintained a downtrend in October, as overall demand in the bonded bunker fuel market slackened further due to the continued negative impact of the epidemic.At the same time, some Chinese ports lost their price advantage compared with neighboring ones, as their bonded bunker fuel prices were high amid slightly tight supply.

The country recorded about 1.59 million mt of bonded bunker fuel sales in October 2022, a drop of 4.22%from a month earlier, JLC’s data shows.

Specifically, the sales by Chimbusco and Sinopec Zhoushan slid to 560,000 mt and 650,000 mt, while those by SinoBunker and China ChangJiang Bunker (Sinopec) climbed to 70,000 mt and 50,000 mt respectively. Suppliers with local licenses sold 260,000 mt of bonded bunker fuel in the month.

China’s September bonded bunker fuel exports slipped on month as export margins were not so good, but the exports were still relatively high.

The country tallied about 2.01 million mt of bonded bunker fuel exports in September, slightly down by 0.95%from the previous month, according to the data from General Administration of Customs of PRC (GACC). The dip was mainly attributed to a further monthly decline in LSFO production. Chinese refiners were less keen to produce LSFO in the month, as China had released a large quota on oil product exports and diesel export margins appeared to be more considerable compared with LSFO. The country’s LSFO output (of Chinese refiners with export quotas) totaled about 1.24 million mt in September, down by 8.01%month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Among the exports were about 1.90 million mt of heavy bunker fuel and 111,600 mt of light marine gas oil (MGO), accounting for 94.44% and 5.56% of the total respectively. The bonded bunker fuel exports by state-owned enterprises were around 1.68 million mt in the month, occupying 83.8%, while those by local independent enterprises climbed to 325,500 mt, making up 16.2%.

On a year-on-year comparison, however, the exports skyrocketed by 29.89%, GACC data shows. Underlying the jump was much larger output of LSFO and the release of this year’s fourth and fifth batches of quota on LSFO exports in September.

Domestic bunker fuel demand shrinks in October

Domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel demand shrank in October, a traditionally strong month, mainly because of a new wave of epidemic outbreaks across China.

The demand for heavy bunker fuel settled at 390,000 mt in the month, a decline of 30,000 mt or 7.14%fromSeptember, JLC’s data indicates. Downstream buyers showed resistance to relatively high bunker fuel prices when the negative effects of the epidemic persisted.

Light bunker fuel demand contracted in October as well, as prices of marine gas oil (MGO) remained relatively lofty and buyers still based purchases on rigid demand to avoid the risk of prices falling back. Demand for light bunker fuel slipped to 145,000 mt in the month, down by 5,000 mt or 3.33% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Bunker Fuel Supply

China expands bonded bunker fuel imports in September

China boosted its bonded bunker fuel imports in September, as the supply of bonded resources tightened with domestic low-sulfur fuel oil (LSFO) production falling.

The country imported about 427,900 mt of bonded bunker fuel in September 2022, a significant rally of 27.77% month on month, according to data from the General Administration of Customs of PRC (GACC).

Chinese refiners cut LSFO production in the month because it became less profitable for them to produce or export LSFO. The country’s LSFO output (of Chinese refiners with export quotas) totaled about 1.24 million mt in September, down by 8.01% month on month, JLC’s data shows. Although imported low-sulfur resources still lacked price advantages, market participants expanded their imports given the decline in the supply of homemade resources.

The UAE still topped all suppliers by exporting 278,000 mt of bonded bunker fuel to China in the month, accounting for 65% of China’s total bonded bunker fuel imports. The imports from Singapore and SouthKorea amounted to 79,500 mt and 61,400 mt, occupying 19% and 14% of the total respectively. Malaysia dropped to the fourth position, with imports from the country making up 2%.

On a year-on-year comparison, the imports slumped by 25.94% in September, mainly as a result of a yearly surge in domestic LSFO output.

Domestic blended bunker fuel supply tightens in October

Chinese blenders supplied a total of 420,000 mt of heavy bunker fuel in October, a fallback of 40,000 mt or 9.52% from the previous month, JLC’s data indicates.

Domestic blended heavy bunker fuel supply continued to tighten in the month, which was mainly attributed to a decline in blendstock supply. The supply of the major blendstocks including low-sulfur asphalt, coal-based diesel and light coal tar decreased due to tighter virus-related restrictions. In addition, blenders reduced their bunker fuel supply as cargo delivery was not so smooth during the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which also contributed to the drop in domestic blended bunker fuel supply.

Coking margins remained fair but resources flowing into the bunker field were limited as refiners still gave priority to diesel of which prices stayed steep. The supply of domestic marine gas oil (MGO) slipped to 170,000 mt in October, down by 10,000 mt or 5.56% from September, the data shows.

Bunker Prices, Profits

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Yvette Luo

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Tony Tang

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JLC Network Technology Co., Ltd is recognized as the leading information provider in China. We specialized in providing the transparent, high-value, authoritative market intelligence and professional analysis in commodity market. Our expertise covers oil, gas, coal, chemical, plastic, rubber, fertilizer and metal industry, etc.

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report is published by JLC Network Technology Co., Ltd every month on China bunker market, demand, supply, margin, freight index, forecast and so on. The report provides full-scale & concise insight into China bunker oil market.

Note: China-based commodity market information provider JLC Technology has been providing Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times China bunker volume data since 2020. Data from that period is available here.

Photo credit: JLC Network Technology

Published: 11 November, 2022

Alternative Fuels

SMW 2025: Singapore to launch new standard for electric harbour craft this week

MPA and Enterprise Singapore will launch the Technical Reference 136 to provide guidelines for the development and operation of charging and battery swap systems for electric harbour craft, says minister.

Published

7 hours ago

March 24, 2025

Admin

SMW 2025: Singapore to launch new standard for electric harbour craft this week

Minister of State for Transport Murali Pillai on Monday (24 March) said Singapore will launch a new standard for electric harbour crafts this week as part of Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s (MPA) efforts in facilitating decarbonisation for domestic harbour craft to achieve the republic’s national target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

“MPA and Enterprise Singapore will launch the new Technical Reference 136 this week to provide guidelines for the development and operation of charging and battery swap systems for electric harbour craft,” Murali said during his speech at the opening ceremony of the Singapore Maritime Week 2025 (SMW 2025).

“This will enhance the safety and interoperability of electric harbour craft charging infrastructure.”

This is one of the initiatives MPA is undertaking to prepare for the bunkering of alternative marine fuels and decarbonising Singapore’s domestic maritime sector.

The minister said Singapore is taking steps to support the use of various fuels by the industry and position Singapore as a leading bunkering hub for alternative fuels.

“Over the past two years, we have supported trials of alternative fuels such as ammonia and methanol. These have contributed to the development of new technical references and IMO guidelines to enable the safe and efficient use of these marine fuels,” he said.

“MPA and Enterprise Singapore published the new Technical Reference 129 on Methanol Bunkering earlier this month, and we plan to launch a new standard for ammonia bunkering later this year.”

He added MPA has also recently allowed licensed bunker tankers to carry and deliver biofuels up to B30.

“Pilots for up to B100 are ongoing, and we welcome bunker suppliers to engage in these pilots,” he said.

At the opening ceremony of SMW 2025, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, together with Murali, also launched Singapore’s first Maritime Digital Twin, an advanced simulation model developed by MPA in partnership with the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) that integrates real-time data to enhance decision-making and improve management of maritime operations in Singapore waters.

Murali said the digital twin will integrate data from different sources and provide a platform for information sharing. This will enable the development of tools to optimise port efficiency and reliability above, at and below the sea surface.

“For example, the digital twin will enable scenario simulations and dispersion modelling, which can inform standard operating procedures for the safe bunkering of alternative fuels such as methanol and ammonia,” he said.

The minister added MPA will roll out the digital twin to pilot users later this year, before progressive implementation for the wider industry.

“In future, we can extend this to the global maritime ecosystem through our Green and Digital Shipping Corridors with other countries and ports,” he said.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of SingaporePublished: 24 March, 2025

Alternative Fuels

TFG Marine welcomes first of four ‘L’ series IMO type II bunkering tankers of Consort Bunkers

TFG Marine to operate Consort Bunkers’ bunkering tanker “Pearl Lavender”, capable of carrying methanol, biogrades up to B100, as well as conventional fuels, at Singapore port from April onwards.

Published

7 hours ago

March 24, 2025

Admin

TFG Marine welcomes first of four 'L' series IMO type II bunkering tankers of Consort Bunkers

Global marine fuel supply and procurement firm TFG Marine on Friday (21 March) said it attended the delivery ceremony of bunker tanker Pearl Lavender at China Merchants Jinling shipyard in Nanjing.

The IMO type II chemical bunkering tanker newbuilding is amongst others under long-term time charter from Singapore-based bunker supplier and logistics services provider Consort Bunkers Pte Ltd (Consort).

"This state of the art vessel, capable of carrying methanol, biogrades up to B100, as well as conventional fuels, will be operational at the Port of Singapore from April 2025, further advancing our product offering to our client base in the APAC region," said TFG Marine.

"As the first of four barges in this order, this investment builds on our commitment to low-carbon fuel bunkering infrastructure, reinforcing our vision for a multi-fuel future.

"With methanol, biofuels, ammonia, and other alternative fuels playing an increasingly significant role alongside traditional marine fuels, we continue to support the industry's transition towards cleaner energy solutions."

Manifold Times previously reported that Consort first contracted six ‘L’ series 6,500 dwt IMO Type II bunker tankers with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing) Co., Ltd. in April 2023.

The ‘L’ series of bunker tanker newbuildings gained recognition from the China Association of The National Shipbuilding Industry (CANSI) as amongst the Chinese shipbuilding sector’s top 10 innovative vessels for 2024.

Last year, TFG Marine announced the signing of a long-term time charter agreement with Singapore-based bunker supplier and logistics services provider Consort Bunkers for four newbuild bunker tankers.

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 24 March, 2025

Sanctions

US OFAC sanctions first Chinese teapot refinery and oil tankers over Iranian links

Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical and its chief executive officer were added to OFAC’s sanctions list for purchasing and refining hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian crude oil.

Published

7 hours ago

March 24, 2025

Admin

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Thursday (20 March) sanctioned a “teapot” oil refinery and its chief executive officer for purchasing and refining hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian crude oil, including from vessels linked to Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis, and the Iranian Ministry of Defense of Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).

Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co., Ltd (Luqing Petrochemical), a teapot refinery in Shandong Province, has purchased millions of barrels of Iranian oil worth approximately half a billion dollars.

Luqing Petrochemical received Iranian oil transported by shadow fleet vessels, some of which have been sanctioned for their role transporting Iranian petroleum linked to the Houthis and MODAFL, including the MEHLE (IMO: 9191711) and the KOHANA (IMO: 9254082). In mid-2022, Luqing Petrochemical was identified as a buyer of Iranian oil associated with the Iranian military and Iranian military forces.

Luqing Petrochemical is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. PRC national Wang Xueqing serves as the chief executive officer and legal representative of Luqing Petrochemical, and is being concurrently designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Luqing Petrochemical.

“Teapot refinery purchases of Iranian oil provide the primary economic lifeline for the Iranian regime, the world’s leading state sponsor of terror,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.

“The United States is committed to cutting off the revenue streams that enable Tehran’s continued financing of terrorism and development of its nuclear program.”

OFAC additionally imposed sanctions on 19 entities and vessels responsible for shipping millions of barrels of Iranian oil, comprising part of Iran’s “shadow fleet” of tankers supplying teapot refineries like Luqing Petrochemical.

Iranian crude oil is transported to teapot refineries via a “shadow fleet” of vessels that usually engage in deceptive shipping practices, including automatic identification system (AIS) manipulation.

OFAC sanctioned eight vessels that constitute part of this fleet, including the Comoros-flagged NATALINA 7 (IMO: 9310147), Panama-flagged CATALINA 7 (IMO: 9310159), AURORA RILEY (IMO: 9181649), and VIOLA (IMO: 9254915), San Marino-flagged MONTROSE (IMO: 9281695), Barbados-flagged VOLANS (IMO: 9422988) and BRAVA LAKE (IMO: 9232876), and the currently unflagged TITAN (IMO: 9293741).