Bunker prices have declined across the Americas, and the US Gulf is experiencing calm conditions with no fog-related disruptions.

IMAGE: A truck driving across an intermodal shipping yard in the Port of Los Angeles, California. Getty Images

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

• VLSFO prices down in Los Angeles ($21/mt), New York ($14/mt), Balboa ($9/mt), Houston ($5/mt) and Zona Comun ($1/mt)
• LSMGO prices down in Los Angeles ($19/mt), New York ($11/mt), Balboa ($6/mt) and Houston ($2/mt)
• HSFO prices down in New York ($17/mt), Los Angeles ($15/mt), Houston ($5/mt) and Balboa ($1/mt)

Los Angeles has recorded the sharpest decline in VLSFO and LSMGO prices. Its LSMGO premium over Houston has widened to $53/mt, which is three times greater than in the beginning of March.

Amid escalating trade tensions between the US and China, the port is also expected to see a drop in vessel arrivals and import container volumes.

According to the Port of Los Angeles' Signal portal, vessel call and container throughput rates are projected to fall by nearly 29% in the week to 3 May.

Meanwhile, New York has recorded price declines across all fuel grades, with HSFO seeing the sharpest drop. It is nonetheless trading at a $45/mt premium over Houston.

New York may face delays due to high wind gusts from tomorrow.

In the US Gulf, the fog season will continue through May, but no major disruptions have been reported as current conditions remain relatively calm, a source said.

Brent

Brent The front-month ICE Brent contract has slightly gained $0.10/bbl on the day, to trade at $67.15/bbl at 08.00 CDT (13.00 GMT).

Upward pressure:

Brent has moved higher following the weekly oil inventory report from the American Petroleum Institute (API).

US crude oil inventories fell by 4.6 million bbls in the week ending 18 April, according to the API. A drop in US crude stocks typically indicates higher demand and can lend some support to Brent's price.

Brent has also gained as market participants assessed the impact of new US sanctions on Iran.

Washington has announced fresh sanctions targeting an Iranian shipping magnate whose vessels have allegedly transferred “hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of Iranian liquid petroleum gas and crude oil,” the US treasury department said.

Downward pressure:

Brent price gains have been capped by negative sentiment in the broader financial markets after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lowered its 2025 global economic growth forecast.

The agency, which represents 190 member countries, projects global gross domestic product (GDP) growth to drop to 2.8% this year, down from 3.3% projected in January. For 2026, it expects world GDP to grow by 3%.

The IMF now expects weaker growth partly as it thinks oil demand will drop as a result of the ongoing trade war between the US and China, broader US trade tariffs on other countries and mounting uncertainties over trade and monetary policies.

By Gautamee Hazarika and Aparupa Mazumder

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