Los Angeles sees dip in scheduled vessel arrivals

HSFO supply remains tight in Panama

Maize export season underway at Bahia Blanca

IMAGE: Houston Ship Channel. Port Houston

North America

Bunker fuel availability remains relatively stable and weather conditions are normal in Houston. VLSFO and LSMGO are both readily available with recommended lead times of around 5-7 days.

HSFO is a bit tight in Houston this week and requires longer lead times.

In the nearby ports of Corpus Christi and Texas City, LSMGO is expected to remain limited through the end of the month.

The Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) is currently experiencing high seas and strong wind gusts, which can lead to potential suspensions of deliveries and a strict first-come, first-served approach at the location.

Vessels with tight schedules or those needing bunkers immediately upon arrival are advised to proceed with this in mind when planning for bunkering in GOLA.

In New York, bunker fuel availability is good, with recommended lead times of 3-5 days. The port is expected to face strong winds through 5 May, which can lead to delays for bunker barges.

Cargo volumes in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are projected to fall sharply as new tariffs reshape trade flows. Bunker enquiries have dropped off a bit with fewer vessels scheduled to arrive, but bunker supply remains steady, with lead times of less than seven days.

According to Port Optimizer data, vessel arrivals from China to these Californian ports have fallen by 29% week-over-week and are down 44% compared to last year.

In the Port of Los Angeles, imports are projected to plunge by 35% next week, with executive director Gene Seroka attributing the downturn to a halt in shipments from China, which previously accounted for about 45% of the port’s business.

For the upcoming week, only 12 ships are scheduled to arrive, compared to 22 just two weeks ago, with container volumes expected to slump to 62,000 TEUs - about half of what was seen in late April.

Bunker demand has weakened among container liners hit by the recent tariffs, although those unaffected continue to drive demand for both HSFO and VLSFO, a source noted.

"The spot market for fuels remains quiet, with not much activity happening right now", a source noted.

In Montreal, high wind gusts are forecast for 2 May, which could lead to possible delays for bunker barge deliveries, especially as barge operations are limited to daylight hours.

Caribbean and Latin America

In Panama, market conditions are largely unchanged, with a muted demand. Bunker fuel availability in the region remains good, with recommended lead times of 3-6 days for VLSFO and LSMGO.

HSFO is bit tight in the ports of Balboa and Cristobal and has expected lead times of around 6-8 days.

Bunker locations such as the Bahamas' Freeport, St. Eustatius and off Trinidad are not expecting significant weather disruptions, and bunker deliveries are proceeding normally.

All fuel grades are currently available for prompt delivery across the Colombian ports of Santa Marta, Barranquilla and Cartagena, with a recommended lead time of 2-3 days.

In Argentina, Zona Comun is experiencing heightened congestion, with just two suppliers currently active, down from the typical five.

VLSFO availability remains tight at the anchorage with recommended lead times of at least two weeks. While no immediate disruptions are noted, bunker barge operations may be suspended if winds exceed 20 knots.

Bahía Blanca, where Trafigura operates with two bunker delivery vessels, is currently seeing more vessel activity.

This port typically experiences a spike in activity during this time of year due to the maize export season. Much of the maize is shipped aboard Panamax and Ultramax vessels.

Fuel availability in Brazil has been good, with lead times of 5-7 days generally recommended.

Santos is experiencing some congestion, which is expected to persist for the next five days, a source said.

By Gautamee Hazarika

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