Sales of VLSFO and HSFO fell in July, both on a total and daily average basis.

Changes in Panama bunker fuel sales from June to July:

• Total sales down 44,000 mt to 387,000 mt
• VLSFO sales down 8,000 mt to 259,000 mt
• HSFO sales down 31,000 mt to 87,000 mt
• LSMGO sales down 4,000 mt to 36,000 mt
• 0.5% MGO sales down 2,000 mt to 4,000 mt

VLSFO sales declined by 3% on the month, while LSMGO sales declined by 9%. HSFO volumes fell by 26% from June levels.

This marks the fourth consecutive monthly decline, according to preliminary figures from the Panama Maritime Authority.

Total sales averaged 12,000 mt/day in July, down from 14,000 mt/day in June.

The number of ships bunkering in Panama’s ports fell by 32 to 575 in July, just two more than in the same month last year.

July marked the sharpest drop in ships bunkering so far this year.

The average stem size dropped to 673 mt this month, from 710 mt in June. The number of barges operating in Panama fell to 28, down by one from the previous month.

CHART: July sales were at their lowest for the month in years

VLSFO continued to dominate Panama’s bunker market in July, accounting for around 67% of total sales.

HSFO accounted for roughly 22%, while combined MGO volumes contributed about 11%.

By Gautamee Hazarika

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