Northwest Europe
Availability of LSMGO seems normal in ARA ports and some suppliers are offering prompt deliveries. Fuel oils can be in tight supply for prompt dates with recommended lead times of around four days for VLSFO and a minimum of seven days for HSFO, sources say.
The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks dropped in the week to 2 June, after gradually adding weight in most weeks since slumping to a low in April, according to Insights Global.
Fuel oil stocks in the region dropped by 240,000 bbls to 6.68 million bbls in the week to 2 June, and gasoil stocks fell by 120,000 bbls to 11.24 million bbls.
Russia remained the ARA’s top source for fuel oil imports in May, followed by the UK, Algeria and France, according to cargo tracker Vortexa.
Bunker fuel availability is normal in the German port of Hamburg with recommended lead times of around five days across fuel grades, a source says.
In Bremerhaven, supply of LSMGO is said to be good while prompt deliveries of VLSFO and HSFO are more difficult to find there, a source says. One supplier can typically offer prompt VLSFO and HSFO, depending on quantity.
Mediterranean
Bunker supplies are under pressure in the Gibraltar Strait ports, particularly for HSFO, sources say.
Prompt volumes of HSFO can be difficult to find in Gibraltar, where prices have been trading higher premiums over Rotterdam this week. But the recommended lead time for HSFO stems in Gibraltar is similar to that in Rotterdam at around 5-7 days.
Prompt supply of VLSFO is also difficult to find in Gibraltar, and one supplier is waiting for replenishment set to arrive around 15 June, a source says.
Bunker congestion in Gibraltar has eased this week, with three vessels waiting for space at anchorage on Wednesday, down from 11 on Tuesday, according to port agent MH Bland. Two suppliers are experiencing 2-14 hours of delays.
In Ceuta, a supplier has halted deliveries at anchorage for a week from Monday while its barge is at drydock for maintenance, a source says. Meanwhile, bunkering operations are running smoothly in Ceuta with no reported congestion this week.
In Malta, availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal, and some suppliers can offer prompt deliveries, a source says. However, strong winds and gusts forecast for Thursday and Friday could cause some offshore bunker disruptions. Seatrans Shipping agency expects only Area 4 of the island state’s six offshore bunkering areas will be operational during high winds from Thursday evening to Friday morning.
Africa
Favourable weather conditions in Algoa Bay during week has helped in clearing some bunker backlogs, where four vessels were in line to bunker on Wednesday, down from six on Tuesday and nine on Monday, Rennies Ships Agency says.
However, strong winds are forecast in Algoa Bay on Sunday and could disrupt some bunker operations, a source says.
Suppliers in Algoa Bay have been working through a considerable backlog of vessels through this week. Bunker supply capacity improved from Friday following the removal of daylight restrictions on Thursday. These restrictions were imposed to investigate and clean up an oil spilled during a ship-to-ship transfer in late May.
Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO are currently tight in Durban, but suppliers are expecting replenishment around 10 June, a source says.
Source: ENGINE (https://engine.online/)