Rio de Janeiro-based oil and gas company Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) on Monday (27 April) said it experienced an increase in marine fuel sales activity, especially within the Asia market, during the first quarter of 2020 (1Q20).
“Total average production of oil products in 1Q20 was 1,836 kbpd, exceeding the 4Q19 production by 2.4%,” stated the Q1 report.
“The production of low sulfur bunker and fuel oil continued to stand out, maintaining its appreciation in the international market, according to the IMO 2020 specifications.
“We started 2020 fully supplying the market, with the required quality, constantly capturing export opportunities, especially in the Asian market.
“The production of fuel oil, especially bunker streams and low sulfur fuel oil, reached an average of 295 kbpd [in 1Q20], a meaningful increase of 18.5% in relation to 4Q19 production.”
Petrobras earlier considered reducing its oil production in April to 2.07 MMbpd and the utilisation factor of its refineries from 79% to 60%.
However, the Brazilian oil company recently changed its mind and planned for the gradual return to an average oil production level of 2.26 MMbpd in April alongside an increase in the utilisation factor of its refineries due to better than expected demand for its products.
“Oil has been and will be essential for the functioning of the modern economy for a long time,” explained CEO Roberto Castello Branco.
“We are strongly committed to promoting Petrobras’ resilience to the global scenario that is extremely hostile to the oil industry.
“Despite the enormous challenges, we are confident that with the dedication and talent of our employees we will achieve this goal. The lessons learned in this crisis will contribute to transforming us into a stronger and more value-generating company.”
Photo credit: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.
Published: 29 April, 2020
The top three positive movers in the 2020 bunker supplier list are Hong Lam Fuels Pte Ltd (+13); Chevron Singapore Pte Ltd (+12); and SK Energy International (+8), according to MPA list.
‘We will operate in the Singapore bunkering market from the Tokyo, with support from local staff at Sumitomo Corporation Singapore,’ source tells Manifold Times.
Changes include abolishing advance declaration of bunkers as dangerous cargo, reducing pilotage fees on vessels receiving bunkers, and a ‘whitelist’ system for bunker tankers.
Claim relates to deliveries of MGO to the vessels Pacific Diligence, Pacific Valkyrie, Pacific Defiance, Crest Alpha 1, and Pacific Warlock between March 2020 to April 2020.
3,490 mt of LSFO from Itochu Enex was lifted at Universal Terminal; the same bunker stem was bought by Global Marine Logistics and delivered by bunker tanker Juma to receiving vessel Kirana Nawa.
Representatives of Veritas Petroleum Services, Maersk, INTERTANKO, ElbOil Singapore, and SDE International provide insight from their respective fields of expertise on what lies ahead.