Availability remains steady in Houston

Port calls decline across North America

Vila do Conde and Belem experiencing fuel shortages

IMAGE: Cargo containers being offloaded in the Port of Los Angeles. Getty Images

North America

In Houston, availability of all bunker fuel grades remains steady, with recommended lead times of 5–7 days.

“Market activity is largely driven by spot demand, particularly for VLSFO and LSMGO,” a source said.

In New York, bunker fuel supply of HSFO and VLSFO is steady with recommended lead times of 3-5 days. HSFO availability is a bit tight and requires around 5-7 days.

Adverse weather conditions are forecast to persist in the port through 10 May, which could result in operational disruptions and delays for bunker barges.

Bunkering resumed in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) on Thursday, after being suspended for two days. Deliveries are made on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The lightering area continues to experience rough weather conditions, which can trigger to bunker suspensions again later this week.

But “prolonged delays are not expected at the anchorage,” a source noted.

Cargo import volumes have declined in the West Coast ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach over the past month, as the impact of new tariffs continues to reshape trade flows.

“Fuel demand has softened with fewer vessel arrivals, though supply remains stable, and lead times are still under seven days,” a source said.

The Port of Los Angeles has called attention to the fact that 1 in 12 jobs in the Los Angeles and Long Beach areas are linked to port activities. Weaker imports can lead to far-reaching economic impacts extending beyond both Los Angeles and California, port officials said.

US tariff negotiations are currently inevitably causing delays and affecting the number of port calls across major ports in North America, especially in Los Angeles, Long Beach as well as in New York Harbor.

In Montreal, high wind gusts are forecast until Saturday, which could lead to delays for bunker barge deliveries.

Caribbean and Latin America

In Panama availability of all bunker fuel grades remains steady, but demand is severely muted. Suppliers recommend lead times of 4–6 days.

In the Bahamas' Freeport and in St. Eustatius, deliveries are being made at anchorage, with priority given to cruise ships. Deliveries are also being carried out off Trinidad, with no reported backlogs at this time.

Fuel availability remains steady in Colombia’s main ports of Santa Marta, Barranquilla and Cartagena. All fuel grades are currently in stock and can be delivered promptly, with lead times of 2–3 days.

Brazil is generally well supplied, but the ports of Vila do Conde and Belém are facing shortages from delayed resupply.

“Ream Participações, an oil supplier in Brazil and Petrobras have currently no product available at these ports,” a source informed. The delay in resupply is attributed to cabotage-related constraints, which is affecting product movements between domestic ports.

The port of Santos is expected to face congestion over the next five days, though this is fairly typical for the port, a source noted. Recommended lead times in the port stand at between 5-7 days.

Argentina’s Zona Comun anchorage remains somewhat congested, with limited supply options as two of its suppliers, Minerva and Raízen, still have barges in dry dock. VLSFO availability is therefore tight at the anchorage, with recommended lead times of 12-14 days.

Possible disruptions are forecast in Zona Comun between 11-12 May due to high wind gusts. While deliveries are currently underway, bunker barge operations could be halted if wind speeds surpass 20 knots.

By Gautamee Hazarika

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