North America
Bunker demand has been extremely high in Houston and several other ports along the US Gulf Coast in the past week. This demand has primarily been driven by the upcoming Christmas and year-end holidays, which always tend to increase demand for shipping goods.
Availability of both VLSFO and LSMGO has gotten tighter in Houston, and some suppliers can only deliver them with a lead time of more than seven days. Prompt HSFO supply is also tight and lead times of 8-9 days are recommended for the grade.
Prompt supply of VLSFO and LSMGO is also tight in Bolivar Roads and Beaumont. Bunker deliveries there are subject to weather conditions and availability of anchorage space, a source says.
A moderate to high risk of fog and reduced visibility is forecast around Corpus Christi, Lake Charles, Port Arthur, Galveston and Freeport from tomorrow, which could delay vessel traffic around the region and through the Houston Ship Channel until next week, a source says. As a result, some suppliers are refraining from offering stems for prompt dates in the area.
Bunker operations were running smoothly in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) on Thursday. However, strong wind gusts of up to 34 knots are forecast over the weekend, which could keep bunkering suspended until Sunday.
At the New Orleans Outer Anchorage (NOLA), there has been strong demand for VLSFO and LSMGO on non-prompt delivery dates, and most suppliers are able to offer stems for these dates.
All grades are tight for prompt delivery dates in the West Coast ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Most suppliers need at least seven days of lead time to deliver VLSFO and LSMGO stems in the ports. Securing HSFO can be even harder as only a few suppliers have supplies available.
Availability of all grades is also getting tighter in the East Coast port of New York amid a rise in demand. Bunker operations were suspended in New York on Monday due to strong wind gusts.
Caribbean and Latin America
Demand for all fuel grades has been low in Panama’s ports of Balboa and Cristobal amid the ongoing drought-triggered restrictions. Availability has been very good for VLSFO and LSMGO, and most suppliers are able to offer stems within 3-4 days in Balboa. HSFO can be secured with a lead time of about seven days.
VLSFO and LSMGO delivery is possible for prompt dates off Trinidad, but these offers are generally quoted on a subject to enquiry basis, a source says.
VLSFO and LSMGO supply is good for prompt dates in the Brazilian ports of Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, Itaqui and Rio Grande. Most suppliers can deliver stems within 4-6 days of lead time.
Bunker operations resumed in Zona Comun on Thursday morning after being suspended since Tuesday due to bad weather conditions. Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal for prompt dates at Argentina’s Zona Comun anchorage. Most suppliers can deliver stems within five days of lead time.
Zona Comun has been experiencing decreased traffic for the past two weeks, resulting in lower demand. A severe drought has decreased exports from the region by 40% in 2023, compared to 2022. Argentina is currently facing a severe drought that has resulted in reduced crop production, a port agent told ENGINE.
We are now starting the wheat and cruise ship season, so it is expected to be back to normal as of April 2024,” the port agent said.
Source: ENGINE, https://engine.online/news/availability/americas-fuel-availability-outlook-21-december-2023-55a1