Prompt LSMGO tight in the Gibraltar Strait

HSFO tight off Walvis Bay

LSMGO availability improves in Maputo

IMAGE: Aerial view of Durban port landscape. Getty Images

Northwest Europe

Lead times of 9-10 days are recommended for HSFO and LSMGO in the ARA, up from last week’s 6-8 days and 5-6 days, respectively. VLSFO lead times have come down from 6-8 days to 5-6 days. Prompt supply is tight for all fuel grades, a trader told ENGINE.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have declined by 9% in July so far, according to Insights Global data. At 6.05 million bbls, the region’s fuel oil stocks are at their lowest average since January this year.

The ARA has imported 110,000 b/d of fuel oil this month, a decline compared to June’s 133,000 b/d, according to data from cargo tracker Vortexa. Half of these imports have come from France. Other major import sources include Finland (26%) and the UK (21%).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil – have fallen by 3% in July, compared to June. The ARA hub has imported a total of 101,000 b/d, a decrease from June’s 164,000 b/d, Vortexa data noted.

Lead times of 10 days have been recommended for Sweden’s Gothenburg and Denmark's Skaw, according to a trader. Bunkering could be disrupted by bad weather in Gothenburg between 11-12 July and off Skaw between 12-13 July, a source noted.

The German port of Hamburg continues to have good bunker availability with recommended lead times of 3-5 days, another trader told ENGINE.

Mediterranean

Prompt supply remains tight in the Gibraltar Strait, according to a trader. Lead times of 8-9 days continue to be advised for HSFO and LSMGO, and of 10-12 days for VLSFO.

There were two receiving vessels waiting for bunker barges to become available in Gibraltar on Wednesday, according to port agent MH Bland. The port has been facing varying degrees of congestion since last week. Suppliers in the port were running 2-12 hours behind schedule on Wednesday.

The port agent also noted that suppliers in Algeciras are delayed by 2-8 hours.

Prompt bunker supply is good in Las Palmas, with recommended lead times consistently at 5-7 days, according to a trader.

All grades are readily available in Barcelona, with recommended lead times unchanged at 5-7 days, a trader said.

Off Malta, prompt bunker supply is good, according to a trader. Wind gusts of up to 29 knots could disrupt bunker operations, a source noted.

HSFO, ULSFO and LSMGO are readily available in the Greek port of Piraeus, with recommended lead times of 1-5 days, according to a trader. VLSFO is less in demand now after the sulphur limit was capped at 0.10% in the Mediterranean, and lead times vary.

The Turkish port of Istanbul has good bunker availability, a trader said.

Africa

Prompt bunker supply is available in the Mozambican ports of Nacala and Maputo, according to a supplier. LSMGO availability in Maputo has improved from last week.

HSFO availability is very tight in Port Louis, according to a trader. VLSFO and LSMGO grades are readily available in the port. The port is forecast with bad weather between 9-13 July, which could disrupt operations.

Durban continues to have steady VLSFO supply, with 2-4 days of lead time advised, a trader said. LSMGO supply remains dry.

HSFO availability has tightened further off Walvis Bay, while VLSFO and LSMGO remain readily available, according to a trader. Bad weather is forecast between 9-13 July and could disrupt deliveries, a source said.

VLSFO and LSMGO are available in Luanda with lead times of 3-4 days advised for both grades, according to a trader.

HSFO availability is strained in Togo’s Lome. Inconsistent weather conditions are forecast in the port from 8-13 July and could hold back bunkering.

By Samantha Shaji

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