Prompt supply under pressure off Malta

LSMGO availability tight in Istanbul

Walvis Bay runs out of HSFO

IMAGE: Aerial view of the Bay of Gibraltar. Getty Images

Northwest Europe

VLSFO, HSFO and LSMGO availability remains stable in the ARA bunkering hub, but prompt deliveries are tight, a trader told ENGINE.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks dropped by 6% in July, according to Insights Global data. At 6.28 million bbls, fuel oil stocks in the ARA bunkering hub were at their lowest monthly average this year.

The region imported 192,000 b/d of fuel oil in July, up from 133,000 b/d imported in June, cargo tracker Vortexa’s data shows. The UK was the region’s top fuel oil supplier in July, making up 19% of imports, ahead of France (13%) and Germany (9%).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil – dropped 9% in July, compared to June. The ARA hub imported a total of 185,000 b/d in July, down from June’s 164,000 b/d, Vortexa data noted. Major suppliers included Saudi Arabia (14%), the US (13%) and Qatar (12%).

Lead times of 10 days are recommended for all grades off Skaw in Demark and in Sweden’s Gothenburg, according to a trader.

Availability is good at Germany’s Hamburg, with recommended lead times of 3-5 days for all grades, another trader said.

Mediterranean

Securing prompt supplies of any grade is challenging in the Gibraltar Strait ports of Gibraltar, Algeciras and Ceuta, with lead times of 8-10 days advised for HSFO and 5-7 days for VLSFO and LSMGO, a trader said.

Congestion has eased in Gibraltar, with only three vessels awaiting bunkers on Wednesday, down from 10 last week, according to port agent MH Bland.

Meanwhile, one supplier is running 12-16 hours behind schedule in Gibraltar, MH Bland said. According to data from A. Mateos & Sons, that supplier will be bunkering around 16 vessels calling at the port between 6-16 August.

Prompt supplies are tight in Las Palmas, with recommended lead times of 7-10 days, a trader said. Lead times of 5-7 days are advised for all grades in Barcelona.

Availability of all grades is stable in Portugal’s Lisbon, according to a source.

Prompt deliveries are difficult to book off Malta, especially for LSMGO, a trader told ENGINE.

In Greece’s Piraeus, HSFO and LSMGO supplies are normal with advised lead times ranging between 1-6 days, while VLSFO lead times are given upon enquiry.

Prompt deliveries of LSMGO are tight in Turkey’s Istanbul, while other grades are more readily available, the trader said. Istanbul is forecast to face northeastern wind gusts of over 25 knots between 6-12 August.

Africa

The only bunker supply vessel in South Africa’s Richard’s Bay is under maintenance and is expected to be back in operation by 13 August, according to a source.

VLSFO supplies are smooth in South Africa’s Durban, with recommended lead times of 2-4 days. LSMGO supplies still remain dry.

Prompt availability is tight for all grades in Port Louis in Mauritius. Lead times of 7-10 days are recommended for VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries, a trader said.

HSFO is now unavailable off Namibia’s Walvis Bay, while VLSFO and LSMGO supplies remain normal, with lead times of 5-7 days advised for both fuel grades, a trader said.

Meanwhile, Angola’s Luanda anchorage still remains out of fuel, according to a source.

In Togo’s Lome, prompt deliveries are tight for all fuel grades, according to a trader.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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