Independently held fuel oil stocks in the ARA bunkering hub have dropped by 6% in October so far, according to Insights Global data.

Changes in monthly average ARA stocks from September to October (so far):

• Fuel oil stocks down 390,000 bbls to 5.83 million bbls
• Gasoil stocks up 630,000 million bbls to 16.88 million bbls

The ARA's fuel oil inventories are now at their lowest monthly average of the year.

The region has imported 34,000 b/d of fuel oil so far in October, sharply down from the 250,000 b/d imported in September, according to cargo tracker Vortexa.

A majority of these supplies have arrived from Ireland (51%), while a significant portion of the supplies has come from Poland (34%).

Meanwhile, the ARA has exported 214,000 b/d of fuel oil in October to date, up considerably from September’s 147,000 b/d.

Most of the shipped volumes have left for Russia (36%), Guyana (27%) and Colombia (13%).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil – have gained by 4% so far this month compared to September, according to the Insights Global data.

The ARA has imported 111,000 b/d of gasoil in October, almost half the 209,000 b/d imported in September, according to Vortexa data.

Most cargo volumes have arrived from India (45%), followed by the US (30%) and Finland (11%).

LSMGO bunker availability has tightened in the ARA hub this week, with most buyers advising lead times of at least 6-7 days to arrange supplies, while VLSFO and HSFO continue to require 5-7 days of notice, a trader said.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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