VLSFO and HSFO availability tight in Singapore

Availability good across all grades in Sri Lankan ports

Bunker demand low in Fujairah

PHOTO: Container ship and working crane bridge with Hong Kong skyline in the background. Getty Images



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

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