Prompt supply tight in Gibraltar Strait

Eight-day lead times for LSMGO and ULSFO off Malta

VLSFO only on firm enquiry in Piraeus

IMAGE: The Port of Piraeus in Athens, Greece. Getty Images

Northwest Europe

Fuel availability is stable in the ARA bunkering hub this week, a trader said. For LSMGO deliveries, buyers are advised to book 4-5 days ahead to get good coverage from suppliers. Lead times of 5-7 days are advised for VLSFO and HSFO supplies.

ARA’s independently held fuel stocks have dipped by 1% in September so far, Insights Global data shows.

The region has imported 313,000 b/d of fuel oil in September so far, up sharply from 179,000 b/d imported in August, according to cargo tracker Vortexa. Greece has contributed to around 19% of total imports, followed by the US (16%) and Denmark (15%).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil – have jumped by 13% so far in this month, compared to August. The ARA hub has imported 285,000 b/d of gasoil so far this month, a considerable rise from 187,000 b/d in August, according to the Vortexa data. Saudi Arabia has emerged as the region's top import source, supplying 30% of volumes, followed by Qatar (17%) and India (15%).

Hamburg, which is Germany’s largest bunkering hub by port calls, is receiving a healthy number of enquiries for LSMGO and VLSFO supplies this week, a trader said. Both grades along with HSFO are easily available with a notice of 3-5 days advised.

Meanwhile, availability of all grades remains tight off Denmark’s Skaw and in Sweden’s Gothenburg, with buyers advised to enquire with a 10-day lead time in both locations, a trader said. Wind gusts of more than 25 knots and waves up to 1.5 metres are forecast between 17-21 September. Usually, waves over 2.5 metres can disrupt bunkering and cause delays in these locations.

Mediterranean

In the Strait of Gibraltar, demand remains strong with traders reporting a good number of enquiries for supplies of all fuel types. Securing immediate deliveries can be challenging, with buyers advised to enquire about HSFO stems with a lead time of 8-10 days and 5-7 days for LSMGO and VLSFO deliveries, a trader told ENGINE.

At least 47 vessels are expected to call for bunkers in Gibraltar between 17-23 September, according to shipping agent A. Mateos & Sons.

Congestion has eased at the port with only two vessels currently waiting for bunkers, compared to somewhere between 9-11 vessels waiting on most days last week, but supplies are still delayed by anywhere between 2-12 hours, port agent MH Bland said.

Delays have come down in the neighbouring port of Algeciras, with some deliveries running 12 hours behind schedule, compared to last week when some supplies were late by almost a day, MH Bland added.

In Ceuta, bunkering operations are proceeding normally and on time at the anchorage while small delays can be expected at the berth, shipping agent Jose Salama & Co said.

In Las Palmas, fuel availability is tight for prompt deliveries, with HSFO supplies requiring a notice of 10 days, while lead times of up to seven days are advised for some VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries, a trader said.

Buyers looking to bunker in Barcelona are advised to book with a seven-day lead time, a trader said.

Meanwhile, all fuel types are easily available at Portugal’s Lisbon, a source said.

Off Malta, ULSFO and LSMGO deliveries need a notice of 4-8 days to get coverage from a good selection of suppliers, a trader said. Rough weather is forecast for 25 September, with wind gusts between 15-25 knots and waves of up to 1.5 metres, which could delay some deliveries.

VLSFO supplies are still very tight in Greece’s Piraeus, and subject to firm enquiry, a trader said.

The fuel grade is more readily available in Istanbul, the trader added. LSMGO and ULSFO availability is also stable in the Turkish port, with recommended lead times of 1-5 days, while HSFO deliveries are subject to firm enquiry, a local supplier said.

Africa

In Senegal’s Dakar, VLSFO and LSMGO supplies are tight and bunker availability depends on the enquiry, a source told ENGINE.

Deliveries in the Togolese port of Lome require a notice of 7-10 days for HSFO and 5-7 days for VLSFO and LSMGO, a trader said.

LSMGO deliveries are easily available round the clock in Sao Tome & Principe’s Sao Tome and Neves terminals, a local supplier told ENGINE.

HSFO supplies are very tight off Namibia’s Walvis Bay, while VLSFO and LSMGO supplies are readily available. Buyers are advised to enquire about deliveries with a 5-7-day lead time, a trader said. Waves of more than 2 metres are forecast off Walvis Bay on 18 September, which may make it difficult for ships to bunker in that area.

In South Africa’s Durban, VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries are proceeding normally, while LSMGO supplies remain very tight, a trader said. Wind gusts are forecast to remain moderate at below 15 knots for most of the coming week, except between 20–22 September when they could exceed 25 knots. Waves are predicted to stay above 2.5 metres until 23 September. All supplies at berth and anchorage will be carried out after taking safety into consideration.

At least five vessels are expected to call at the port for bunkers between 16-27 September, according to shipping agent Trade Ocean.

In Port Louis in Mauritius, HSFO supply is extremely tight with buyers advised to enquire almost two weeks ahead for deliveries, a trader said. VLSFO and LSMGO supplies are comparatively stable, but 5-7 days of lead times are still advised for both grades, the trader added.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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