Good bunker availability in Las Palmas

HSFO supply remains tight in Lome         

VLSFO and LSMGO supply good in Luanda

IMAGE: Aerial view of container port and a ship in Istanbul. Getty Images

Northwest Europe

Prompt supply remains strained in the ARA hub, a trader told ENGINE. Lead times for HSFO and LSMGO are 9-10 days, while VLSFO requires around 5-6 days.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have declined by 7% in July so far, according to Insights Global data. At 6.24 million bbls, the region’s fuel oil stocks are at their lowest monthly average since April 2022.

The ARA hub has imported 256,000 b/d of fuel oil in July so far, a significant increase from June’s 133,000 b/d, according to data from cargo tracker Vortexa. France has become the region's top import source, accounting for 26% of total imports. Other import sources include Denmark (15%) and the US and UK (14% each).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil – have fallen by 5% so far this month. The ARA hub has imported a total of 127,000 b/d in July so far, a slight decrease from June’s 164,000 b/d, Vortexa data noted.

Lead times of 10 days are advised for Gothenburg and off Skaw, according to a trader.

Bunker availability remains good in Germany's Hamburg port, with recommended lead times of 3-5 days, another trader told ENGINE.

Mediterranean

Prompt supply at the ports of Gibraltar, Ceuta and Algeciras are strained this week, according to a trader. Recommended lead times are 8–9 days for HSFO and LSMGO deliveries at these ports, while VLSFO supply requires 10–12 days.

In Ceuta, one bunker supplier was running behind schedule on Wednesday, according to shipping agent Jose Salama & Co.

Meanwhile, Tenerife could experience wind gusts of up to 24 knots until Friday, which could create weather conditions unsuitable for bunkering, according to port agent MH Bland.

Prompt bunker supply remains good in Las Palmas, with recommended lead times of 5-7 days, according to a trader. Two suppliers in the port were running 6-8 hours behind schedule on Wednesday morning.

Barcelona has good supply of all fuel grades and recommended lead times are 5-7 days, a trader said.

Lisbon also has good bunker supply, with recommended lead times of 3-5 days, according to a trader.

Off Malta, prompt bunker supply is good, according to a trader. Bad weather conditions are forecast on 17 July, which could complicate bunker deliveries.

VLSFO availability remains tight in the Greek port of Piraeus, while other conventional fuel grades are readily available there.

Istanbul has good bunker availability, according to a trader. The port is forecast to face weather-related disruptions on 18 July.

Africa

HSFO supply remains tight in Port Louis, but VLSFO and LSMGO grades are readily available, according to a trader. The port is forecast to experience rough weather conditions until the late hours of 18 July, said a source.

Durban has good VLSFO supply, with recommended lead times of 2-4 days, a trader said. LSMGO supply remains dry.

VLSFO and LSMGO are readily available in Luanda, with recommended lead times of 3-4 days, according to a trader.

HSFO availability remains tight off Walvis Bay, but VLSFO and LSMGO grades are readily available, according to a trader. Adverse weather conditions are forecast until 18 July, which could disrupt bunker deliveries, a source said.

HSFO availability remains under pressure in Togo's Lome, according to a trader.

By Samantha Shaji

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