Northwest Europe
Securing prompt supply of VLSFO, LSMGO and HSFO can be difficult in Rotterdam as delivery capacity is still under pressure with several suppliers there, sources say. Recommended lead times for all fuel grades in Rotterdam are around 5-7 days. Meanwhile, deliveries on prompter dates are subject to enquiries and will be expensive, a source says.
The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have averaged 9% higher so far this month than in February as importers have pulled large volumes from certain European countries to substitute banned Russian product.
The UK has emerged as the top source for the ARA’s fuel oil imports so far this month, going by the Vortexa data. Fuel oil imports from the UK have accounted for 14% of the region’s total imports. Other sources of fuel oil imports have been Poland (10%), Lithuania and Saudi Arabia (8% each) and Italy (7%).
The region’s gasoil inventories have averaged slightly higher so far this month than in February. Saudi Arabia has become the ARA’s top gasoil import source this month and accounted for a third of its total. Other sources of gasoil imports have been India and Singapore (10% each), the UAE (9%) and the UK (8%).
Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is said to be normal-to-tight for delivery off Skaw, requiring lead times of up to seven days, a source says. Delivery prospects for HSFO are subject to enquiries, the source adds.
In Germany’s Hamburg, VLSFO and LSMGO supply is said to be normal, requiring lead times of around 5-6 days, a source says. HSFO deliveries are subject to enquiries.
In Bremerhaven, supply of LSMGO is normal for prompt dates, while VLSFO and HSFO is tight, a source says.
In France, ongoing strikes and refinery stoppages have cut off bunker fuel resupply to several French ports, according to sources. Securing bunker deliveries is currently difficult in the ports of Dunkirk and Le Havre on the French Atlantic Sea coast and in the southern French ports of Marseille, a source says. Lead times for deliveries are hard to pin down in these ports, the source adds. Besides barge loadings, deliveries by trucks have also been impacted, the source says.
Workers across sectors in France are protesting the government’s plans to reform the country’s retirement system, including raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.
Mediterranean
Bunker fuel availability across all grades is said to be normal in Gibraltar. One supplier can offer prompt delivery of all fuel grades in Gibraltar, depending on the quantity, a source says.
Bunker supplies are also normal in Algeciras, Ceuta and Malta, sources say. Suppliers can offer prompt deliveries off Malta, a source says.
HSFO supply has improved off Malta and in the Greek port of Piraeus in the recent weeks, a source says. Prompt supply of other fuel grades is also normal in Piraeus.
Minimal congestion was reported in Gibraltar and Algeciras on Wednesday morning, while no backlog was reported in Ceuta, according to port agent MH Bland.
Six vessels were scheduled to arrive for bunkers in Ceuta on Wednesday, according to Jose Salama & Co.
In Las Palmas, suppliers resumed deliveries at the port’s outer anchorage on Monday morning after bunkering was halted by high swells last week. The port is forecast to experience bad weather in periods between 29 March and 7 April, MH Bland says. This could complicate deliveries at its outer anchorage.
Africa
Bunkering was suspended in Algoa Bay on Wednesday morning due to adverse weather conditions. Strong winds and swells of up to 3 metres hit the bay and disrupted bunker deliveries there, a source says. Bad weather is forecast to prevail until Thursday, which could keep bunkering disrupted and delay deliveries to some of the 10 vessels scheduled to arrive for bunkers this week.
Meanwhile, bunkering is going ahead as usual in Mozambique’s ports of Nacala and Maputo. A total of seven vessels are due to arrive for bunkers across the two ports this week, slightly down from eight last week, a source says. Bunker fuel availability is normal in these ports.
Supply of VLSFO and LSMGO is said to be normal in Durban and Algoa Bay. Lead times of up to seven days are advised for deliveries in these two locations, a source says.
Source: ENGINE, By Shilpa Sharma, https://engine.online/news