Marine fuel sales at Singapore, the world’s largest bunker hub, dipped in April from the previous month but rose from the year-ago period, data showed on Wednesday.

The volumes totalled 4.40 million metric tons, down 1.4% month-on-month but higher by 4.0% year-on-year, latest data from Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) showed.

Vessel calls for bunker were slightly slower in April at 3,504, while container throughput came off from multi-year highs, totalling 3.63 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

Trade sources in Singapore said that demand was average in April and in May so far, with premiums holding steady to slightly higher for bunker fuel delivered.

Sales of mainstay 0.5% low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) grade fell 4.1% from March to 2.24 million tons in April, while high-sulphur marine fuel (MFO) volumes firmed 5.0% at 1.70 million tons, the MPA data showed.

Meanwhile, total marine gasoil sales were at 314,700 tons for April, down 5.7% month-on-month.

Sales of alternative fuels also pared back, with April marine biofuel volumes falling 23.7% to 111,000 tons, after reaching a fresh monthly high in March. Liquefied natural gas bunker sales rose 7.6% to 42,000 tons.
Source: Reuters