Immediate deliveries difficult in the Gibraltar Strait

LSMGO supply tight off Malta and in Istanbul

VLSFO easily available in Senegal’s Dakar
IMAGE: View from the Rock of Gibraltar, UK to Algeciras, Spain. Getty Images

Northwest Europe

VLSFO, HSFO and LSMGO fuel grades are readily available in ARA, with buyers advised to enquire 5-7 days ahead of delivery to get good coverage from suppliers, a trader told ENGINE.

ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have increased by 3% in August so far, according to Insights Global data. The fuel oil stocks have risen from 2025’s lowest monthly average recorded in July.

The region has imported 224,000 b/d of fuel oil in August so far, considerably more than the 192,000 b/d imported in July, according to cargo tracker Vortexa. Most of the supplies came from the Bahamas (20%), followed by Germany (14%) and Lithuania (10%).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil – have increased by 1% in August from July.

The ARA hub has imported 163,000 b/d of gasoil so far this month, down from 185,000 b/d imported in July, according to Vortexa data. Saudi Arabia alone contributed around 35% of the supplies, followed by the Qatar (19%) and Russia (12%).

Among the Nordic ports, securing prompt supplies can prove to be challenging off Denmark’s Skaw and in Sweden’s Gothenburg, with a 10-day lead time recommended for delivery of all grades, a trader said.

At Germany’s Hamburg port, supplies of all fuel grades can be easily secured with a notice of 3-5 days, another trader said.

Mediterranean

Prompt supply remains tight across all grades in Gibraltar Strait ports, with lead times stretching to 8-10 days for HSFO and around 5-7 days each for VLSFO and LSMGO, a trader said.

Some suppliers are running 2-6 hours behind schedule at Gibraltar, compared to last week when all suppliers were delivering on time, according to port agent MH Bland.

Some suppliers are running up to 18 hours behind schedule in Algeciras, compared to last week's delay of 2-8 hours by some suppliers, port agent MH Bland said.

Availability is tight for prompt supplies at Las Palmas, with a 10-day notice required for delivery of all grades, a trader said. A 7-day notice is needed for deliveries in Barcelona, the trader added.

Supplies are stable in Portugal’s Lisbon, according to a source.

LSMGO supplies are a bit tight off Malta and in the Turkish port of Istanbul, a trader said. VLSFO and HSFO availability is normal in both ports. Stems should be fixed with lead times between 1-5 days for all grades.

In Greece’s Piraeus, VLSFO supply is subject to firm enquiry, while availability of ULSFO, HSFO and LSMGO is stable, a trader said. Booking 1-4 days ahead of delivery for all grades is recommended.

Africa

In the Senegalese port of Dakar, immediate deliveries of VLSFO are readily available, with 1-2 days of notice sufficient, a source told ENGINE.

In Togo’s Lome, availability is tight for prompt deliveries, with lead times of 7-10 days recommended for HSFO, and 5-7 days advised for VLSFO and LSMGO, a trader said. Increased wave periods of more than 15 seconds and waves over 1.3 meters are forecast on 31 August and could make it difficult for ships to bunker there.

VLSFO and LSMGO supplies are tight at Angola’s Luanda, a source said.

Off Namibia’s Walvis Bay, a single supplier was offering HSFO on firm enquiry. VLSFO and LSMGO supplies remain readily available. Buyers are advised to book 5-7 days ahead of delivery. Waves of more than 2.5 meters height are forecast between 30 August-3 September and could disrupt bunkering.

In South Africa, VLSFO and LSMGO supplies are stable in Durban, while LSMGO remains out of stock. VLSFO is easily available at Richard’s Bay.  Wind gusts of more than 25 knots and waves over 2.5 meters are forecast at Durban on 30 August, which could complicate bunkering. 

VLSFO and LSMGO remain readily available in Mozambique's Maputo, a source told ENGINE. In Nacala, VLSFO availability has improved this week with shortened lead times of 1-2 days, while HSFO and LSMGO also continue to be readily available, the source added.

HSFO availability is very tight in Mauritius’ Port Louis, with some suppliers offering to deliver after two weeks from firm enquiry, a trader said. A 10-day lead time is required for VLSFO and LSMGO.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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