The ARA hub is seeing tight prompt supply of HSFO and VLSFO, a trader told ENGINE. Recommended lead times for both grades are at 7-8 days. However, prompt LSMGO supply is good with lead times of 3-5 days advised.
Antwerp, one of the three main ports in the ARA hub, has faced staffing as well as vessel intake issues due to a national strike that began in the late evening on 28 April. Operations resumed in the port’s Zandvliet area in the port early on 30 April, according to port authorities.
The ARA's independently held fuel oil stocks have declined by 4% so far this month compared to March, according to Insights Global data. At 7.01 million bbls, the region's fuel oil stocks inched upwards since last week.
The region has imported 226,000 b/d of fuel oil so far this month, an increase from 198,000 b/d of fuel oil in March, according to data from cargo tracker Vortexa. The ARA has imported low sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) and HSFO in a 52/48 ratio so far this month, leaning towards LSFO as compared to last months' equal split.
The UK has emerged as the region's top import source, taking up 27% of the total share. Other import sources include Mexico (15%), the US (14%), Russia (13%), France (9%) and Lithuania (7%).
The ARA’s independent gasoil inventories – which include diesel and heating oil – have also averaged 4% lower this month. The ARA hub has imported 227,000 b/d of gasoil and diesel so far this month, marking a dip from 346,000 b/d imported in March, according to Vortexa data.
Off Skaw in the Swedish port of Gothenburg there is currently limited bunker availability, with lead times of 10 days advised for both locations across the fuel grades, a trader told ENGINE.
Prompt bunker supply is good in Germany's Hamburg port, a trader said. All bunker grades require lead times of 3-5 days, consistent with the last few weeks.
Mediterranean
Prompt supply for all grades is tight in the Gibraltar Strait ports, compared to last week's readily available prompt supplies, a trader said. Recommended lead times for HSFO and VLSFO are 12-14 days, while for LSMGO it is 7-8 days.
Bunker operations in the ports were suspended at the beginning of this week owing to adverse sea and wind conditions as well as some pressure on certain suppliers’ barge availability. Gibraltar and Algeciras are partly functional now, though congestion persists.
In the Canary Islands' port of Las Palmas, lead times for HSFO and LSMGO remain at 12-14 days, while the earliest delivery date for VLSFO has been extended to mid-May, a trader said.
Bunker availability in the Spanish port of Barcelona is good, with lead times of 5-7 days recommended, a trader said.
Suppliers in Istanbul have prompt ULSFO available, while supply of HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO remains tight.
Bunker supply is tight off Malta, especially for LSMGO, the trader said.
Africa
Though demand for bunkers in Durban is low, lead times of 2-4 days are advised, a trader informed ENGINE. Durban’s LSMGO supply still remains dry, a trader said. The grade has been dry since the last week of January, when suppliers ran out of LSMGO stock.
Port Louis in Mauritius continues to have normal bunker availability. Lead times of 3-5 days are advised for all grades.
In Luanda, VLSFO availability remains good, but LSMGO supply is very tight, a trader said.
Prompt delivery is also good off Walvis Bay, with lead times of 3-6 days recommended.
Source: Engine