North America
Houston’s bunker fuel demand has remained good this week. Availability of both VLSFO and LSMGO has been tight, and some suppliers can only deliver them with a lead time of seven days. Prompt HSFO supply is also tight and lead times of more than 10 days are recommended for the grade.
Bunker demand for delivery dates in the first week of February has also increased, and most suppliers are able to offer stems for the enquired dates.
Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO supply is now available with a few suppliers in Bolivar Roads and Beaumont. However, bunker deliveries there remain subject to weather conditions, a source says.
A moderate to high risk of fog and reduced visibility is forecast around Corpus Christi, Lake Charles, Port Arthur, Galveston and Freeport on Thursday, which could delay vessel traffic around the region and through the Houston Ship Channel, a source says.
Bunkering was proceeding normally in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) on Thursday morning. However, there are forecasts of strong wind gusts of up to 55 knots expected by Thursday evening, which could potentially impact bunkering in the lightering area.
Securing fuel grades can be difficult in GOLA, particularly HSFO, due to recent intermittent weather suspensions in the region.
Securing both prompt and non-prompt VLSFO and LSMGO stems is getting tighter at the New Orleans Outer Anchorage (NOLA) with an uptick in demand in the region. Some suppliers are unable to provide an exact date for when they will have the stems available.
All grades remain tight for prompt delivery dates in the West Coast ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. However, demand has also remained low in the ports.
Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO has been good in the East Coast port of New York. Both grades can be secured within 3-4 days of lead time.
Caribbean and Latin America
Demand for all fuel grades have remained low in Panama’s ports of Balboa and Cristobal so far this week amid the ongoing drought-triggered restrictions. Availability has been very good for VLSFO and LSMGO, and most suppliers can offer stems within 3-4 days in Balboa. HSFO can be secured with a lead time of about seven days.
Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO supply is available off Trinidad, but these offers are generally quoted on a subject to enquiry basis, a source says.
Bunker operations have been suspended in Argentina’s Zona Comun anchorage since Wednesday due to strong wind gusts. Rough weather conditions are forecast until Saturday, which could keep bunkering suspended there.
Availability of both VLSFO and LSMGO has been tight in Zona Comun this week.
Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO availability is getting tighter in the Brazilian port of Rio Grande. One supplier needs at least seven days to deliver these fuels, while the earliest delivery date for two other suppliers is 25 January.
Source: ENGINE, By By Debarati Bhattacharjee, https://engine.online/news