Marine warnings active in North Atlantic

Bunker demand steady in East Coast

VLSFO avails tight in Santos and Rio Janeiro

IMAGE: Port operations ongoing at Rio De Janeiro. Getty Images

North America

The bunker fuel market in Houston records a steady demand. HSFO and LSMGO can be delivered at the port within the recommended lead times of 3-5 days. For VLSFO, suppliers are recommending at least five days to make deliveries.

The shortest time that two suppliers can deliver the three grades is 1-2 days.

"The port has been experiencing good weather conditions, leading to on time deliveries with very few delays," a source said.

Availability is also normal at nearby bunkering hub Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA). All three grades can be delivered between 4-5 days.

LNG bunkering is also available at the anchorage and lead times typically stand at roughly 7 days.

In the Houston/Galveston belt, light winds are expected through Friday with waves mostly below 1 metre. However, winds are expected to slightly increase over the weekend to 10–15 knots, with gusts nearing 20 knots.

Bunkering operations are expected to remain manageable with only minor weather-related impacts, a source informed ENGINE.

Off Corpus Christi, fuel availability is decent, and suppliers can deliver HSFO and LSMGO between 5-6 days.

Although the Atlantic hurricane season is underway, currently, there are no active hurricanes ongoing.

The National Hurricane Centre has issued advisories on Tropical Storm Gabrielle in the Atlantic, with marine warnings active in the Southwest North Atlantic.

For New York, bunker fuel availability continues to remain healthy this week. VLSFO and HSFO can be delivered within lead times between 3-6 days. LSMGO is more readily available at the port and requires around 2-3 days.

Winds are expected to remain light, shifting gradually from north to south today and back to westerly and northerly through Friday night. Wave heights will stay low at 1–2 feet. Some patchy fog and light showers may briefly reduce visibility early this morning.

Conditions are generally conducive for bunkering in New York, with only minor disruptions possible due to early morning fog and reduced visibility.

In Los Angeles and Long Beach, all three fuel grades are available in good stock, with recommended lead times of 5–7 days. According to the port’s official site, 22 container ships are expected to call at the port in the coming week.

Bunker demand has seen a slight recovery this week, with more inquiries compared to the past 2–3 weeks, a source said.

Latin America and the Caribbean

In Panama’s Balboa, HSFO continues to be a bit tight, and suppliers are recommending booking volumes at least a week ahead. Additionally, vessel transits have slowed in Balboa lately, a source noted.

VLSFO and LSMGO fuel stocks are also reported to be healthy at Balboa and Cristobal, where suppliers are typically asking for 3-5 days for delivery.

In Bahama's Freeport, VLSFO and LSMGO can be delivered in 6–7 days, while in Jamaica's Kingston, lead times for both grades stretch to 8–9 days.

The Colombian ports of Cartagena, Santa Marta, and Barranquilla also report healthy stocks of VLSFO and LSMGO, with earliest delivery dates at 2–3 days.

Fuel availability across Brazilian ports is mixed, with some locations facing congestion and delayed deliveries while others report stable supply.

At Santos, VLSFO is available under special terms for larger quantities, but congestion is impacting operations, and LSMGO availability is also tight and requires over seven days for delivery.

In Rio de Janeiro, prompt VLSFO supply remains limited, but LSMGO is more readily available, within of 6-7 days.

Salvador and OPL Sepetiba expect fresh VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries by 19 September and 29 September, respectively, while Paranagua reports steady supply, where both the fuel grades can be delivered in 3-5 days.

Rio Grande shows both VLSFO and LSMGO available without major issues, and lead times remain under a week.

Itaqui has tight availability meanwhile and both the grades require over two weeks, and the earliest estimated date of delivery is currently 30 September.

In Argentina’s Zona Comun, VLSFO and LSMGO remain adequately supplied, with unchanged lead times of 5–7 days.

The weather in Zona Comun is calm today with light winds of 5–9 knots, rising to 11–13 knots by evening under clear skies. But stronger gusts of 20–25 knots with rain are forecast from Sunday into Monday, which could delay bunkering operations as suppliers typically suspend deliveries when winds exceed 20 knots.

By Gautamee Hazarika

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