Winter sets in across Houston

New York gears up for stormy conditions

HSFO supply remains tight in Panama

IMAGE: Aerial view of a port in Brazil. Getty Images

North America

Bunker fuel demand in Houston remains healthy, with all conventional grades available within 4–8 days.

"Demand is fairly stable, and market conditions are normal. The port has sufficient stocks, with few tight spots observed," a bunker trader told ENGINE.

With the onset of the winter season, a ship agent noted that terminal operators in Houston should also consider the potential impact of extended fog-related closures in the months ahead.

In Port Beaumont and the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA), HSFO and LSMGO can be delivered within 3–4 days, while VLSFO typically requires around 5 days.

The shortest delivery window in Beaumont is 1–2 days.

Calm conditions are expected at GOLA through 8 November, before winds strengthen to 22–26 knots with gusts up to 37 knots from early 9 November, bringing rougher seas.

Bunkering operations are likely to be suspended between 9–10 November, a source said.

No tropical cyclones are currently expected across the Central Pacific, Eastern Pacific, or Atlantic regions, according to the National Hurricane Center.

In New York, demand has remained steady for HSFO and VLSFO this week, with recommended lead times of 5–7 days. LSMGO demand has softened and can be supplied within 2–3 days.

The East Coast port is currently facing rough weather conditions, with a storm watch in effect from Wednesday evening through Thursday. A low water advisory is also in place from midnight to 4am EST on Thursday.

Adverse weather is likely to cause significant disruptions to bunkering operations between 7–11 November.

In Los Angeles, bunkering continues as normal, with all three fuel grades available at typical lead times of 5–7 days.

The number of expected container vessels arriving next week has risen to 19, up from 17 this week, according to the port’s vessel tracker, Signal.

In Canada’s Vancouver, HSFO can be supplied by 14–15 November, while VLSFO and LSMGO remain available with lead times of 4–8 days, depending on order size.

Latin America and the Caribbean

The Panama bunker fuel market is reporting some tightness on availability of HSFO. The lead times have extended from 7-8 days to 8-10 days, a local supplier informed ENGINE.

VLSFO and LSMGO are available, with fairly good lead times of 3-5 days.

In Columbia, ports of Cartagena, Santa Marta and Barranquilla report to have good stock of VLSFO and LSMGO. The earliest delivery date is three days.

In Brazil, HSFO is not available for bunkering. The lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO differ depending on the port and available stock.

In Santos, the port is congested for the next 5 days. VLSFO and LSMGO are available in good stock and can be delivered within 7-8 days of lead time.

Availability is okay across the ports of Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Rio Grande, Belem, Vila do Conde, where VLSFO and LSMGO can be delivered within recommended lead times of 4-5 days.

In OPL Sepetiba, both these grades can be supplied by 10-11 November at the earliest. Meanwhile, the port of Paranagua continues to report normal availability for VLSFO, which can be delivered in 4-5 days, but has no availability for LSMGO.

Lastly, Itaqui has the shortest lead times, and both VLSFO and LSMGO can be supplied by 8-9 November.

Argentina’s Zona Comun is reporting normal conditions in the bunker market. Both VLSFO and LSMGO is available at the anchorage, with VLSFO making up a larger chunk of the demand. Recommended lead times for both remains at 5-7 days.

Demand for biofuels at the port continues to be muted, with only one supplier in theory selling biofuels at the anchorage.

By Gautamee Hazarika

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