Integr8 Fuels’ Bunker Quality Trends Report June 2024

In the fourth bi-annual report from Integr8 Fuels, bunker quality and claims manager Chris Turner advises shipowners and bunker buyers on how they can improve their buying processes and performance.  Tapping into the world’s biggest bunker fuel quality sample database, Turner reveals the most pressing quality issues the industry is up against.

These include:

• Red Sea closure affecting VLSFO compliance for vessels rerouting around Africa
• Global VLSFO compliance suffers as suppliers stretch barges to cash in on rising HSFO demand, driven by increasing scrubber numbers
• Two-thirds of fuels are still sold with obsolete (pre-2017) specifications. Can the new ISO specs finally shake up old school practices?
• Profit margin-motivated blenders push more HSFOs over ISO limits
• VLSFO sulphur off specs worsening in the ARA and partly driven by high- to low sulphur barge switching
• The supply landscape as it relates to availability, off-specification trends and problematic parameters
• Biofuel quality and distribution
• Geographical variances and “hot spots”

Download the report (PDF) (Recommended for mobile) >>

About the Author:

Chris Turner, Technical Manager

Chris joined Integr8 Fuels in 2017, spending several years in Singapore before relocating to Dubai. With over 35 years in oil and shipping, he has held roles in laboratory management, physical supply, broking, and trading. More recently, he has focused on technical supervision of exclusive buying and helped develop quality systems for biofuel purchasing, leading to Integr8’s ISCC certification.

An active IBIA Technical Working Group member, Chris is also a regular speaker and panellist at major bunkering conferences worldwide.