New York demand strengthens

HSFO remains tight in Balboa

VLSFO supply robust in Zona Comun

IMAGE: A container ship setting sail from the Port of Houston at Morgan's Point. Getty Images

North America

Bunker fuel availability is steady in Houston, and port conditions remain normal. There is some barge congestion reported at the port over the past week, which has led to delay in delivery of HSFO.

Suppliers are now recommending to book HSFO at least a week ahead, as prompt HSFO supply remains tight.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is good and can be delivered in lead times of 4-5 days.

The Atlantic hurricane season is underway, and the National Hurricane Center has issued advisories for Hurricanes Kiko and Lorena in the Eastern Pacific, where marine warnings are currently in place.

Fuel demand has picked up in New York, with the port reporting healthy availability across all three grades. Recommended lead times this week are around 3–5 days.

Southern winds with gusts of up to 25 knots are forecast on Thursday, likely generating waves of up to 2 feet near the anchorage. Showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms could also cause minor delays to bunkering operations, a source said.

Fuel demand continues to slump on the West Coast, with Los Angeles reporting fewer enquiries at the port.

Availability-wise, the port is reporting adequate stocks, where suppliers can deliver HSFO and LSMGO within lead times of 6-7 days. Recommended lead time for VLSFO stands at around 7-8 days.

According to the port’s tracker, the number of container ships expected at the port has dropped to 19 this week. Still, it is expected to make a small recovery in the upcoming week with 21 vessels anticipated.

The Trump administration has appealed the ruling against tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to the Supreme Court.

The current stay on the tariffs expires on 14 October, but the government is expected to seek an extension to keep them in place until the Court delivers a final ruling, said Lars Jensen, chief executive of Vespucci Maritime.

This is expected to prolong uncertainty for importers into the US.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Fuel availability has remained good in Panama, with the ports of Balboa and Cristobal receiving a healthy number of enquiries this week, a bunker trader told ENGINE.

VLSFO and LSMGO are available at the ports with lead times of 3-4 days.

HSFO supply is running tight at Balboa and requires at least a week to be delivered.

Both ports are experiencing favourable weather conditions for bunkering, with no major disruptions expected this week.

In South America, Balboa has seen the highest bunkering activity, with at least 654 VLSFO stems and 441 LSMGO stems booked in the past 90 days, according to ENGINE's fuel quality data.

VLSFO and LSMGO remain readily available at Cartagena, Santa Marta, and Barranquilla with 3–4 day lead times.

In Freeport, HSFO and LSMGO are typically supplied within 5–6 days, though some deliveries can be made in 2–3 days.

Water levels on the Amazon River, which flows through Peru, Colombia and Brazil, have continued to recede at a slower pace than expected.

This has prompted carriers to further postpone the introduction of low water surcharges on shipments along the key waterway.

Availability remains good in Brazil with steady demand. Santos, Rio Grande, and Rio de Janeiro report 5–6 day lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO. HSFO is unavailable at these ports.

In Argentina, the anchorage location of Zona Comun is expected to face rough weather conditions until Friday morning. Currently, high wind gusts are blowing between 23-24 knots, threatening to suspend bunkering operations.

Fuel availability in Zona Comun remains normal for both VLSFO and LSMGO, with recommended lead times of 6-7 days.

Lead times could extend into the weekend if weather conditions don’t improve, a local supplier said.

By Gautamee Hazarika

Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online