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:

• Key Houston terminal shifts to single supplier
• Bunker demand declines in New York
• Petrobras implements quantity pricing in Santos

North America

Bunker fuel demand has dropped in Houston this week, while availability has improved.

“Avails are honestly looking much better than in the past few weeks,” a source said.

Both VLSFO and HSFO can be delivered within lead times of 3-5 days, while LSMGO is more readily available and can be delivered under three days.

The Enterprise Houston crude and refined products is now supplying bunkers exclusively sold through a single supplier, market sources say.

It supplies marine fuels including LSMGO and VLSFO via ex-pipe, and HSFO by barge.

“Permission for bunkering alongside has shifted from Enterprise to the supplier directly…so it’s safe to assume that any barge not tied to them will be rejected at this terminal,” a bunker trader said.

Alternative bunker options in the region include Bolivar Roads and the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA).

The hurricane season is underway in the US Gulf Coast region, which will run through to the end of November.

“It’s important to note that any storm hitting GOLA will impact bunker operations at both Bolivar Roads and the Port of Houston,” a source said.

For now, conditions are forecast to be favourable to bunkering off both GOLA and Corpus Christi.

Bunker demand has weakened in New York, while availability of bunker fuels remains decent. All fuel grades can be delivered within recommended lead times of 4-5 days.

“Overall demand has been down this week, but the past couple of weeks were very busy so it had to even out at some point,” a market source said.

No significant weather disruptions or congestion are expected in New York this week.

The twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have also recorded a decrease in overall bunker demand this week.

“Fuel availability is a tad bit tight compared to east coast, and suppliers require at least seven days to make deliveries,” a source said.

Los Angeles has recorded an 11% decline in cargo import volumes this week compared to last week.

In Montreal, barge operations are restricted to daylight hours, and anchorage deliveries can be delayed by bunker barge readiness issues.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Panama’s bunker market has improved and demand has picked up compared to previous weeks. Availability is decent in the ports of Balboa and Cristobal, a source confirmed.

VLSFO and LSMGO can be delivered with lead times ranging between 4-5 days, and HSFO in four days.

The Panama Canal is now operating at full capacity following severe and extended drought conditions that began in 2023. Canal authorities are maintaining a 50-foot draft through the dry season.

For the key Colombian ports of Cartagena, Santa Marta and Barranquilla, a bunker broker said, “Fuel availability is good. We can deliver VLSFO at $545/mt and LSMGO at $665/mt within three days.”

Bunker demand in Brazil remains steady, with prompt availability of VLSFO and LSMGO at Rio Grande and Rio de Janeiro, where lead times range between 3–5 days.

In Santos, congestion continues to be a regular issue, and supply is tighter with suppliers advising lead times of at least seven days in advance.

Petrobras has introduced additional discounts on stems over 1,500 mt that are supplied in Santos from 10 July, saying it wants to incentivise larger volumes and improve logistics.

Argentina is currently working on ramping up crude export infrastructure. Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales (YPF)’s Punta Colorado terminal is expected to have 7 million bbls of crude storage and 550,000 b/d supply capacity, Antares Ship Agents informed.

Crude will load via two offshore buoy moorings, with a pipeline from Vaca Muerta also under construction. The terminal is expected online by mid-2027.

Operations at another anchorage on the Paraná Guazú River called KM 171, a key transshipment point for diesel imports into Paraguay, will continue for another 10 months.

Argentina’s Customs had planned to shut it from 1 August over authorisation issues, but reversed the decision after Paraguay protested.

Further south, availability is normal in Zona Comun with recommended lead times of 5-6 days for both VLSFO and LSMGO.

The anchorage is expected to experience periods of dense fog between 13-14 July, which may disrupt bunkering and cause temporary suspensions.

Deliveries here are subject to weather conditions and follow a first-come, first-served system.

By Gautamee Hazarika

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 11 July 2025

Beijing-based commodity market information provider JLC Network Technology Co. recently shared its JLC China Bunker monthly report for June 2025 with Manifold Times through an exclusive arrangement:

Bunker Fuel Demand

China’s bonded bunker fuel sales inch lower in June

China’s bonded bunker fuel sales inched lower in June, due to the negative impact from geopolitical tensions and seasonally tepid shipping demand.

The country sold about 1.74 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in June, with the daily sales at 57,910 mt, a dip of 0.26% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Bonded bunker fuel sales by Chimbusco, Sinopec (Zhoushan), SinoBunker and China Changjiang Bunker (Sinopec) respectively settled at 460,000 mt, 560,000 mt, 45,000 mt and 25,000 mt in the month, while those by suppliers with regional bunkering licenses stood at 647,300 mt.

The efficiency of global trade declined amid trade war, leading to a slip in the world’s bunkering demand.

China’s LSFO output rallies in June

China’s LSFO output rallied in June amid unit restarts, but the rally was limited to some degree by some refineries’ maintenance and bad production margins.

Chinese refiners produced about 1.02 million mt of LSFO in the month, with the daily output rising by 10.58% month on month to 34,067 mt, JLC’s data shows.

Specifically, Sinopec maintained basically stable LSFO production in June. The company’s Shengli Oilfield and Jinling Petrochemical slashed their production after launching maintenance in the middle of the month, while Shanghai Gaoqiao Petrochemical, Hunan Petrochemical and Tianjin Petrochemical wrapped up turnarounds and boosted their output.

PetroChina recorded a modest rise in its production in June as Jinxi Petrochemical restarted its units. However, Jinzhou Petrochemical and Liaohe Petrochemical slightly cut their production. The output of other refineries did not change much in the month.

CNOOC saw a significant boost in its output in the month, as Huizhou Refinery resumed production while Zhoushan Petrochemical and Taizhou Petrochemical ramped up production.

ZPC and Sinochem did not produce any LSFO in June, but the latter exported 10,000 mt of MGO.

On a year-on-year comparison, however, China’s LSFO output fell by 22.75% in June.

Domestic-trade bunker fuel demand weakens in June

Domestic-trade bunker fuel demand further weakened in June, with most shipowners still holding a wait-and-see attitude.

Domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel demand slipped to 340,000 mt in the month, down 20,000 mt or 5.56% from the previous month, JLC’s data shows. Most purchases were still based on rigid demand, though market sentiment became slightly bullish.

Meanwhile, domestic-trade light bunker fuel demand declined to 140,000 mt, down 10,000 mt or 6.67% month on month. Diesel demand remained lackluster amid the fishing moratorium.

Bunker Fuel Supply

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports rebound in May

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports rebounded in May, as domestic refiners increased purchases of imported LSFO when domestic supply tightened.

Chinese bunker suppliers imported 610,500 mt of bonded bunker fuel in the month, a boost of 16.17% month on month and 97.06% year on year, JLC’s calculation shows, based on data from the GACC.

Domestic LSFO output extended declines amid more unit maintenance, forcing bonded distributors to place more orders for imported LSFO. Meanwhile, HSFO imports increased amid growing demand, while MGO arrivals dropped amid larger domestic production and tepid demand.

Russia became the largest bonded bunker fuel supplier to China in May, up from the fourth place in April. The country exported 377,700 mt of bonded bunker fuel to China in the month, accounting for 61.88% of the latter’s total imports. At the same time, Singapore came second with 144,500 mt, accounting for 23.67%, while South Korea ranked third with 50,300 mt, accounting for 8.23%. In addition, Malaysia ranked fourth with 38,000 mt, occupying 6.22%.

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports totaled 2.66 million mt in January-May, surging by 64.54% year on year, the calculation shows.

Domestic-trade bunker fuel supply continues to tighten in June

Domestic-trade bunker fuel supply continued to tighten in June, as the availability of blendstock declined and most blending in northeast and east China was still at a halt.

Blenders supplied about 360,000 mt of domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel in the month, down by 10,000 mt or 2.70% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Domestic supply of low-sulfur residual oil tightened as China Offshore Bitumen (Binzhou) came under maintenance, while that of shale oil also declined. Meanwhile, most blenders in northeast and eastern China were yet to resume their blending, as the impact of tax inspections persisted.

Domestic-trade light bunker fuel supply dropped to 150,000 mt in June, down by 10,000 mt or 6.25% month on month, the data shows. Diesel supply tightened as some refineries lowered their operating rates amid unit maintenance.

Bunker Prices, Profits

Editor
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JLC Network Technology Co., Ltd is recognised as the leading information provider in China. We specialise 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.

All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be photocopied, reproduced, retransmitted, put into a computer system or otherwise redistributed without prior authorization from JLC.

Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (May 2025)
Related: [Updated 15 May] JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (April 2025)
Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (February 2025)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (January 2025)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (December 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (November 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (October 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (September 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (August 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (July 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (June 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (May 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (April 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (March 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (February 2024)
Related: JLC China Bunker Market Monthly Report (January 2024)

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 earlier periods are available here.

Photo credit: JLC Network Technology
Published: 10 July 2025

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:

• Prompt LSMGO tight in the Gibraltar Strait
• HSFO tight off Walvis Bay
• LSMGO availability improves in Maputo

Northwest Europe

Lead times of 9-10 days are recommended for HSFO and LSMGO in the ARA, up from last week’s 6-8 days and 5-6 days, respectively. VLSFO lead times have come down from 6-8 days to 5-6 days. Prompt supply is tight for all fuel grades, a trader told ENGINE.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have declined by 9% in July so far, according to Insights Global data. At 6.05 million bbls, the region’s fuel oil stocks are at their lowest average since January this year.

The ARA has imported 110,000 b/d of fuel oil this month, a decline compared to June’s 133,000 b/d, according to data from cargo tracker Vortexa. Half of these imports have come from France. Other major import sources include Finland (26%) and the UK (21%).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories – which include diesel and heating oil – have fallen by 3% in July, compared to June. The ARA hub has imported a total of 101,000 b/d, a decrease from June’s 164,000 b/d, Vortexa data noted.

Lead times of 10 days have been recommended for Sweden’s Gothenburg and Denmark’s Skaw, according to a trader. Bunkering could be disrupted by bad weather in Gothenburg between 11-12 July and off Skaw between 12-13 July, a source noted.

The German port of Hamburg continues to have good bunker availability with recommended lead times of 3-5 days, another trader told ENGINE.

Mediterranean

Prompt supply remains tight in the Gibraltar Strait, according to a trader. Lead times of 8-9 days continue to be advised for HSFO and LSMGO, and of 10-12 days for VLSFO.

There were two receiving vessels waiting for bunker barges to become available in Gibraltar on Wednesday, according to port agent MH Bland. The port has been facing varying degrees of congestion since last week. Suppliers in the port were running 2-12 hours behind schedule on Wednesday.

The port agent also noted that suppliers in Algeciras are delayed by 2-8 hours.

Prompt bunker supply is good in Las Palmas, with recommended lead times consistently at 5-7 days, according to a trader.

All grades are readily available in Barcelona, with recommended lead times unchanged at 5-7 days, a trader said.

Off Malta, prompt bunker supply is good, according to a trader. Wind gusts of up to 29 knots could disrupt bunker operations, a source noted.

HSFO, ULSFO and LSMGO are readily available in the Greek port of Piraeus, with recommended lead times of 1-5 days, according to a trader. VLSFO is less in demand now after the sulphur limit was capped at 0.10% in the Mediterranean, and lead times vary.

The Turkish port of Istanbul has good bunker availability, a trader said.

Africa

Prompt bunker supply is available in the Mozambican ports of Nacala and Maputo, according to a supplier. LSMGO availability in Maputo has improved from last week.

HSFO availability is very tight in Port Louis, according to a trader. VLSFO and LSMGO grades are readily available in the port. The port is forecast with bad weather between 9-13 July, which could disrupt operations.

Durban continues to have steady VLSFO supply, with 2-4 days of lead time advised, a trader said. LSMGO supply remains dry.

HSFO availability has tightened further off Walvis Bay, while VLSFO and LSMGO remain readily available, according to a trader. Bad weather is forecast between 9-13 July and could disrupt deliveries, a source said.

VLSFO and LSMGO are available in Luanda with lead times of 3-4 days advised for both grades, according to a trader.

HSFO availability is strained in Togo’s Lome. Inconsistent weather conditions are forecast in the port from 8-13 July and could hold back bunkering.

By Samantha Shaji

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 10 July 2025