· VLSFO availability improves in Singapore
· Demand weak in Zhoushan
· Prompt availability tight in Fujairah

Singapore

Suppliers in Singapore have been seeing average demand so far this week, a source says. VLSFO availability has improved in the port, with lead times for the grade coming down from 8-9 days last week to 3-5 days now.

Meanwhile, some suppliers that were offering HSFO with lead times of 8-9 days last week, are now recommending slightly longer lead times of 9-11 days. LSMGO remains readily available, with unchanged lead times of 2-4 days.

Singapore’s residual fuel oil stocks have averaged 12% higher so far this month than in July, according to Enterprise Singapore. 

The port’s net fuel oil imports have declined by 7% so far in August. Both fuel oil imports and exports have declined this month. 
Fuel oil imports have dropped by 12%, while fuel oil exports have plunged by 27%.

Meanwhile, the port’s distillate stocks have shed 8% so far this month.

East Asia and Oceania

A source says weak demand has prevented tightness in Zhoushan, with most suppliers recommending short lead times of 3-5 days – almost unchanged from last week.

Availability across all bunker fuel grades remains good in Hong Kong amid decent demand. Several suppliers are advising unchanged lead times of around seven days across all grades.

Meanwhile, all port operations resumed late last week in the South Korean ports of Pyeongtaek,

Dangjin, Ulsan, Onsan and Yeosu, after being suspended by typhoon Khanun. This has helped to improve
availability across all fuel grades in South Korean ports. Weak demand has also been keeping tightness in check, a source adds.

Some suppliers are now recommending lead times of 5-7 days for VLSFO and LSMGO in South Korean ports. Last week, most suppliers were offering lead times in a wide range of 6-17 days for both grades.

HSFO requires a similar 5-7 days of lead time now – improved from eight days last week.

A source says that eastern South Korean ports are likely be hit indirectly and get bunker operations disrupted by typhoon Lan as it moves towards Japan.

Rough weather conditions are forecast in the South Korean ports of Ulsan, Onsan and Busan until 20 August, and in Yeosu between 18-20 August, and could disrupt bunkering further.

Adverse weather conditions are also forecast in the Vietnamese port of Ho Chi Minh between 16-22 August, and in the Kiwi port of Tauranga on 17 and 20 August, which might affect bunker deliveries at these ports.

South Asia

VLSFO and LSMGO grades can be delivered with around 2-3 days of lead time in Kandla on the northwest coast of India, and in the country’s southern ports of Cochin and Chennai.

Availability of both grades remains tight in Mumbai and Visakhapatnam, where delivery dates are subject to availability. On the other hand, both grades remain subject to enquiry in Tuticorin port on the southeast coast and Haldia on the east coast, a source says.

Bad weather is forecast in the Indian west coast ports of Kandla and Sikka between from 15-24 August, which could affect bunkering.

Middle East

Prompt availability remains tight in Fujairah amid good demand, and lead times are unchanged from last week at 5-7 days. But some suppliers can offer prompt stems across all grades subject to stem sizes, the source adds.

The nearby UAE port of Khor Fakkan has good availability of all grades, with lead times of 5-7 days advised – virtually unchanged from last week.
Source: By Tuhin Roy, Engine