Demand weakens in Houston

HSFO availability improves in Panama

Santos congestion extends lead times

IMAGES: Container ship crossing over the Miraflores locks at the Panama Canal. Getty Images

North America

Bunker demand in Houston has eased across all grades over the past week. VLSFO and LSMGO are available with lead times of 3–5 days, while HSFO requires a little less than a week for delivery.

On Wednesday afternoon, wind gusts of 25–30 knots were reported in the lower Houston Ship Channel and Galveston Bay, with ship agents advising mariners to factor weather conditions into transit plans.

Currently, port operations have resumed normal conditions.

Bunker enquiries in New York have been stable, with VLSFO and LSMGO typically available within 3–5 days. HSFO can require slightly longer lead times of around 5–7 days.

Weather could pose some disruption later this week, with showers and thunderstorms reducing visibility to 1–3 nautical miles on Thursday and Friday, though wave heights are expected to remain around 1–2 feet.

For Sabine/Neches waterway, a slight chance of early morning showers and patchy fog was reported, but conditions are otherwise clear with light winds. Overall, no significant weather-related disruptions are expected.

Supply conditions at the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) remain strong, with multiple suppliers able to provide HSFO and LSMGO within 3–4 days. VLSFO deliveries are expected in approximately 5–6 days.

The weather at the anchorage is stable this week, with no significant disruptions anticipated.

The Atlantic hurricane season is currently ongoing, with several active systems being monitored.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued advisories for hurricane Gabrielle and tropical storm Humberto in the Atlantic, and for hurricane Narda in the Eastern Pacific.

Marine warnings have also been issued for the Atlantic, southwest North Atlantic, and Eastern Pacific.

Bunker availability in Los Angeles and Long Beach remains robust across all grades. VLSFO and LSMGO are available within 5–7 days, while HSFO requires approximately 7–9 days for delivery.

The Port of Los Angeles processed 958,355 TEUs in August 2025, nearly matching last year’s performance, and has handled 6.93 million TEUs year-to-date, a 4.6% increase over 2024.

“With high cargo volumes continuing, bunker operations are expected to remain steady, and suppliers are well-positioned to meet demand within the stated lead times,” a source told ENGINE.

In Canada’s Montreal, overcast skies with occasional rains have reduced visibility which can lead to delay in bunker barges.

But winds are expected to remain light and wave heights are minimal, allowing bunker operations to continue without major disruptions.

Latin America and the Caribbean

In Panama, demand has been low with only a few enquiries received over the week.

HSFO availability has improved at the ports of Balboa and Cristobal, where it can be delivered within 4-5 days.

According to a local supplier’s recommendations, VLSFO and LSMGO can be delivered within lead times of 3-5 days.

In Colombia, the ports of Cartagena, Santa Marta, and Barranquilla report healthy stocks of VLSFO and LSMGO, with the earliest deliveries available within 2-3 days.

HSFO is also available at a few select ports in Colombia, with Cartagena and Barranquilla reporting stocks, which are subject to enquiry.

In Brazil, HSFO is currently unavailable at all ports. In Santos, congestion is affecting operations, and lead times for both VLSFO and LSMGO are impacted, standing at around 5–7 days.

Rio de Janeiro continues to offer VLSFO and LSMGO without significant restrictions, with standard lead times of 3–5 days.

At OPL Sepetiba, the earliest delivery date for both VLSFO and LSMGO are scheduled for 9 October.

Salvador is experiencing tight availability for both grades, with lead times of 6–8 days. Paranagua reports normal stock for VLSFO with recommended lead times of under 5 days, but LSMGO is unavailable at the port.

Rio Grande maintains good availability for both grades, with lead time of 4-5 days.

Belem/Vila do Conde reports normal availability for VLSFO and LSMGO, where suppliers can deliver in the same lead times as Rio Grande.

Itaqui requires a longer notice period, with the earliest delivery dates for both grades currently scheduled for 8 October.

Hydrological conditions across basins in Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina remain in deficit, maintaining low-water regimes. Despite this, sailing depths are still adequate for navigation, a source said.

In Argentina’s Bahia Blanca port, availability remains normal, with deliveries typically made within a week.

At Zona Comun anchorage and the lightering area, VLSFO and LSMGO are supplied by barge, with availability reported as normal. Suppliers are requesting an average of 5–7 days to complete deliveries.

Weather conditions are expected to remain calm today, though slightly higher wind gusts of 19–22 knots between Friday and Sunday may cause intermittent suspensions at the anchorage and minor delays.

By Gautamee Hazarika

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