Northwest Europe
The fast supply of LSMGO to the ARA bunkering center is said to be tight at the moment. The product has a recommended delivery time of around four days in Rotterdam, according to a source.
A delivery time of 4-5 days is recommended for VLSFO delivery to Rotterdam, while HSFO requires around 5-6 days. The prospects for delivering HSFO to the region are subject to consultation, according to a source.
ARA’s diesel stocks – which include diesel and heating oil – have increased by an average of 13% this month compared to January. According to Insights Global data, diesel inventories in the region have risen to their highest level in the past year and are slightly above their five-year average position for this time of year.
The EU ban on imports of Russian refined petroleum products began with a deadline of 5 February and Vortexa has not picked up any inflows of diesel cargo from Russia so far this month.
Saudi Arabia has become the leading source of diesel and diesel imports into the ARA, accounting for 28% of the region’s total this month, Vortexa data shows. In addition to Saudi Arabia, ARA importers have drawn large volumes of diesel and gas oil from distant ports in India (15% of the total) so far this month, and China (14%). and smaller volumes from a range of other sources including Japan (9%), the US and South Korea (7%).
Independent fuel oil stocks of the ARA have fallen by an average of 2% so far this month compared to January and have remained below their five-year average position for the year. Since January, Vortexa has not picked up any Russian fuel oil imports into the ARA. This indicates that Russian fuel oil imports were phased out in January, after accounting for 10% of the ARA total in December.
In Germany’s Hamburg, fast delivery of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal, while delivery prospects for HSFO remain under investigation, according to a source.
Bunker fuel supplies are normal to tight for Skaw’s fast dates, requiring lead times of up to seven days, according to a source. Getting fast HSFO delivery can be difficult there, the source adds.
mediterranean
Bunker deliveries to most ports in the Strait of Gibraltar will remain subject to weather conditions over the coming days as the weather is expected to worsen this week, sources said.
Bunkering partially resumed on Tuesday in Gibraltar and the adjacent port of Algeciras. This has helped suppliers clear some of their backlogs in the region, sources say.
Gibraltar’s bunker backlog was halved from 16 vessels on Tuesday morning to eight vessels on Wednesday morning, according to port agent MH Bland. Earlier this week a large amount of bunkers had built up in the harbor as bunkering was suspended since Thursday last week.
Gibraltar’s suppliers have been busy clearing their bunker backlog and are not offering new deliveries for specific dates. A supplier in the region doesn’t fix new stems until late next week.
While the weather remains a concern in Gibraltar and Algeciras this week, several ships have been diverted to receive bunkers in alternative locations.
Alternative bunkers in the wider Mediterranean region include Las Palmas, Tenerife, Sines, Lisbon, Kali Limenes and Piraeus.
Suppliers from Portuguese and Greek ports have seen an increase in demand in recent days. Bunker-only calls have increased in the Portuguese ports of Lisbon and Sines.
Demand has also increased in Las Palmas, where a supplier is fully booked for fast deliveries. Bunker operations are operating as normal in Las Palmas. Strong winds and high waves are expected to hit the port on Friday, which could complicate deliveries at its outer anchorage.
Bunkering has been limited in Malta this week, according to MH Bland. Only one in six bunkering areas off Malta is open for supply due to adverse weather conditions. Malta suppliers do not accept any new offers. According to sources, a jetty in Valletta has been damaged by the inclement weather and is expected to limit product loadings and product build-up in Valletta and Malta’s bunkering sites for a week.
Bunker operations have been suspended at the Turkish port of Iskenderun since Monday last week after a deadly earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, sources said. Iskenderun’s port infrastructure was severely damaged by the earthquake, which was followed by a major fire on 6 February.
It may take weeks or months for Iskenderun to resume bunkering and other port operations, according to a source. Meanwhile, bunkering is progressing normally in Istanbul, according to a source.
Africa
Bunkering has been progressing as normal in Algoa Bay this week amid favorable weather conditions, according to agency Rennies Ships. There is a favorable weather forecast until Sunday morning.
15 ships are scheduled to arrive at bunkers in Port Elizabeth and Algoa Bay for the rest of the week, Rennies says.
Bunker fuel availability is said to be normal in Algoa Bay and normal to tight in Durban. Recommended lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries to Durban are around seven days, according to a source.
Meanwhile, supply of both grades is currently tight at Mozambique’s Nacala port amid strong demand, according to a source. Five ships are expected to arrive at the bunkers in Nacala this week.
The supply of VLSFO and LSMGO is said to be normal in the port city of Mozambique’s capital Maputo. Five boats should arrive for the bunkers this week.
Bunkering deliveries continue as normal at the two Mozambican ports.
Source: ENGINE, by Shilpa Sharma, https://engine.online/
