Bunker price benchmarks have tracked Brent down across key ports, and New York may face rough weekend weather and potential bunker delays.

IMAGE: Tankers docked at an American oil refinery in Texas. Getty Images

Changes on the day to 08.00 CDT (13.00 GMT) today:

• VLSFO prices down in Zona Comun ($16/mt), Houston, New York ($13/mt), Los Angeles ($12/mt) and Balboa ($10/mt)
• LSMGO prices down in Zona Comun ($34/mt), Los Angeles ($30/mt), Houston ($26/mt), New York ($16/mt) and Balboa ($15/mt)
• HSFO prices down in Los Angeles ($13/mt), New York, Houston ($10/mt) and Balboa ($8/mt)

Houston and New York's VLSFO prices have both fallen by $13/mt in the past session. But over the past month, price movements have widened Houston's discount to New York from $19/mt to $45/mt.

Availability has improved in New York since last week, with lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO coming down to 3–5 days. HSFO requires roughly seven days ahead for delivery.

"Avails are much better on the East Coast, lead times have come down. Demand has definitely been down this week overall though," a bunker trader told ENGINE.

New York Harbor is under a gale watch from Sunday morning through Monday afternoon, which could delay bunker operations, a ship agent said.

Zona Comun has recorded the sharpest declines for both LSMGO and VLSFO, falling by $34/mt and $16/mt, respectively.

Weather conditions are currently normal and are expected to remain calm until early Sunday morning, after which cloudy skies and high wind gusts of 28–34 knots are forecasted for the Argentinian anchorage location. This could disrupt or suspend bunker operations.

Brent

The front-month ICE Brent contract has lost $2.83/bbl on the day, trading at $63.85/bbl at 08.00 CDT (13.00 GMT) today.

Upward pressure:

Washington has announced a fresh sanctions package against Iran, putting some upward pressure on Brent crude.

The US Treasury Department has sanctioned more than 50 individuals, entities and vessels for facilitating Iranian oil and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) sales and shipments.

“[Oil’s] losses were limited after the US announced further sanctions on Iran,” remarked ANZ Bank’s senior commodity strategist Daniel Hynes.

Downward pressure:

Brent crude’s price has plunged following US President Donald Trump’s latest announcement that Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire deal and have agreed to the release of the remaining Israeli hostages, according to media reports.

“This means that all of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a strong, durable, and everlasting peace,” Trump wrote on social media platform Truth Social.

The long-anticipated deal comes as part of a broader plan to end the conflict in Gaza, now in its second year.

“This presents a major step toward ending the two-year war that raised the risk of supply disruptions in the oil market,” Hynes added.

By Gautamee Hazarika and Aparupa Mazumder

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