Singapore
Demand has been average Singapore so far this week. Availability of VLSFO and HSFO has gotten tighter in Singapore, where the earliest estimated delivery dates range between 11-13 days for VLSFO, and 3-10 days for HSFO.
LSMGO remains more readily available, with shorter earliest delivery dates of 5-7 days estimated – marginally up from 4-6 days last week.
Residual fuel oil stocks in Singapore averaged 4% higher in March than in February, according to Enterprise Singapore. The port’s fuel oil stocks managed to remain above 21 million bbls for a second consecutive month. The stocks increased on the back of a 1% rise in net fuel oil imports in March.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s middle distillate stocks swelled by 22% in March.
East Asia
Bunker deliveries resumed in Zhoushan on Tuesday morning after being suspended by rough weather on Monday, a source says. Bunkering is possible at all four anchorages in Zhoushan.
Availability of VLSFO has improved in Zhoushan, with lead times shortening from 5-8 days last week to 3-5 days now. HSFO stems require around 5-7 days – almost unchanged from last week. LSMGO remains readily available with short lead times of 3-5 days recommended.
Availability of all bunker fuel grades remains tight in Hong Kong amid strong demand, a source says. Lead times of 8-9 days are recommended across the grades – virtually unchanged from last week.
Strong wind gusts of up to 21 knots are forecast to hit Hong Kong on 15 April, which might disrupt bunkering.
Rough weather is predicted intermittently between Tuesday and Sunday in the South Korean ports of Ulsan, Onsan, Daesan, Taean and Yeosu, which could hamper delivery of stems.
Meanwhile, all grades have also been getting tighter in South Korean ports, with lead times varying widely between 3-10 days. While lead times are broadly unchanged on the week in the country’s southern ports, lead times have increased significantly in western ports, up from around four days last week.
Adverse weather conditions are forecast to hit the Kiwi port of Tauranga between 15-16 April, which could complicate deliveries.
South Asia
VLSFO and LSMGO can be delivered with around 2-3 days of lead time in several Indian ports, including Kandla on the northwest coast, Cochin and Chennai on the southern coast, and Visakhapatnam on the southwestern coast.
VLSFO and LSMGO remain subject to enquiry in Mumbai, Tuticorin and Haldia, and a supplier in Paradip is almost out of VLSFO to offer.
Bad weather might disrupt bunkering in India’s west coast port of Sikka between 13-18 April, and in the southwestern port of Visakhapatnam on 19 April, a source says.
Suppliers in Kandla are working to clear bunker backlogs. The congestion in the port is expected to ease by 13 April.
Middle East
Prompt availability remains tight in Fujairah across all bunker fuel grades, with lead times of around seven days advised now – down from last week. Some suppliers can do prompt stems of all grades depending on quantity, a source says.
Meanwhile, availability across all grades remains good in the UAE port of Khorfakkan, with recommended lead times of 5-7 days – almost unchanged from last week.
Prompt dates are readily available for LSMGO in the Omani ports of Muscat, Salalah, Sohar and Duqm.
Source: ENGINE, By Tuhin Roy, https://engine.online/news