Bunker benchmarks across the Americas have largely moved downward, and dense fog may disrupt bunkering operations in the US Gulf Coast.

IMAGE: A line of cargo and tanker ships crossing Trinity Bay, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Port of Houston. Getty Images

Changes on the day to 08.00 CDT (13.00 GMT) today:

• VLSFO prices down in Houston ($23/mt), New York ($16/mt), Los Angeles and Zona Comun ($11/mt) and Balboa ($10/mt)
• LSMGO prices down in Houston ($17/mt), New York ($16/mt), Balboa ($15/mt) and Los Angeles ($13/mt)
• HSFO prices up in New York ($11/mt) and Balboa ($1/mt), and down in Houston ($21/mt) and Los Angeles ($9/mt)

Houston’s HSFO prices declined in the past session which has widened its discount to New York from $47/mt on 5 March to $58/mt now.

Fuel availability across all grades in Houston remain stable, with recommended lead times of less than seven days.

Bunker availability in New York is also stable. Lead times for HSFO are at around 5-7 days, while VLSFO and LSMGO remain more readily available, with 3-5-day lead times.

The US Gulf Coast is in its fog season, leading to reduced visibility, which is expected to disrupt bunkering operations in the region.

Zona Comun's VLSFO price also took a plunge after a lower-priced VLSFO stem was fixed at $564/mt for prompt delivery putting downward pressure on the benchmark.

Supply at the anchorage remains tight with unchanged lead times of at least 10 days.

Brent

The front-month ICE Brent contract has gained $0.91/bbl on the day, to trade at $64.54/bbl at 08.00 CDT (13.00 GMT).    

Upward pressure:

The US administration has decided to temporarily pause some country-specific tariff for most trade partners for 90 days. This news has provided some boost to Brent’s price.

Besides, US President Donald Trump on Friday granted exclusions from steep tariffs on smartphones, computers and other electronic devices imported largely from China, Reuters reports.

This development has eased some demand concerns, according to market analysts. “Crude oil found some support after Trump’s announcement of further exemptions to his reciprocal tariffs,” ANZ Bank’s senior commodity strategist Daniel Hynes remarked.

Downward pressure:

Brent’s price edged lower after the OPEC+ oil producers’ group released its monthly oil market report, which presented a subdued outlook for global oil demand.

Global oil consumption in 2025 is expected to average 105.05 million b/d, OPEC said. Previously, it expected consumption to average at around 105.2 million b/d this year.

“Uncertainty over how tense things could get is clouding the demand outlook,” two analysts from ING Bank noted.

Oil demand growth in 2026 is expected to decline further on account of the expected impact of US tariffs, OPEC said.

The report also stated that oil production in Saudi Arabia and Iran, two of the largest producers of the group, increased by 4,000 b/d to about 9 million b/d and 12,000 b/d to about 3.3 million b/d, respectively, in March.

Output in Kazakhstan surged by 37,000 b/d, the Vienna-headquartered group said. 

“OPEC’s monthly oil market report also shed some light on its decision to accelerate its planned production hikes,” Hynes added.

Gautamee Hazarika and Aparupa Mazumder

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