• Prompt product remains tight in the ARA and Gibraltar Strait
• ARA’s gasoil stocks slump to new eight-year lows
• Congestion minimal in Gibraltar Strait ports
Supply of all grades remains under pressure in the ARA. Prompt deliveries remain difficult to find. Recommended lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO in Antwerp and Rotterdam are seven days, a source says. Suppliers are avoiding offers for prompt deliveries, and offer validities are down to only a few minutes, sources say.

The ARA’s independently held gasoil stocks have been drawn to new eight-year lows, according to Insights Global data.

HSFO380 availability is even tighter in the ARA when going by recommended lead times, which are now around 10 days. Relatively fewer suppliers offer HSFO380 than VLSFO and LSMGO grades in the bunker hub.

According to the Port of Rotterdam Authority, fuel oil throughput in the port dropped over 20% to 13.5 million mt in the first quarter of 2022 due to limited inflows from Russia.

In the German ports of Hamburg and Bremerhaven, availability remains tight for VLSFO and LSMGO, a source said. A supplier can offer VLSFO deliveries in Bremerhaven from 4 May, as replenishment stocks are expected to arrive by then.

LSMGO availability is normal in Bergen, where a supplier can offer prompt deliveries, a source said.

LSMGO has been offered in Gibraltar with a wide price difference between the highest-and lowest-priced suppliers. Recommended lead times in Gibraltar Strait ports are around 5-7 days for VLSFO and LSMGO.

Gibraltar Strait ports have seen calmer this week, allowing bunker operations to run smoothly. Congestion in Gibraltar was minimal on Wednesday, with six vessels waiting to bunker. Suppliers in Algeciras continue to deliver stems at inner and outer anchorages, says port agent MH Bland.

In Ceuta, all operations are running normally with no congestion and delays on Wednesday morning.

Calmer weather in Malta has allowed suppliers to clear backlogs from previous suspensions. But conditions are forecast to deteriorate on Thursday and could possibly trigger more suspensions and delays until Friday, sources say.

All six of Malta’s offshore bunkering areas were operational on Wednesday with no backlogs reported. 10 vessels were due to arrive in and off Malta for bunkers on Wednesday, Seatrans Shipping agency said.

In Las Palmas, availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is tight. Prompt deliveries are difficult to find, sources say. Recommended lead times are around 7-9 days. Strong winds and swells are forecast from Thursday, which could possibly trigger suspension or delays at its outer anchorage until Friday.

In Italy’s Genoa, availability of VLSFO and LSMGO remains tight. A supplier can offer VLSFO earliest delivery from 5 May, sources say.

Bunkering operations in Durban are running smoothly now after being hit by severe floods earlier this month. The recommended lead time for VLSFO and LSMGO there is seven days, a source says.
Source: ENGINE (https://engine.online/)