singapore
VLSFO availability is still limited in Singapore, with recommended delivery times of 9-11 days, almost the same as last week. The availability of LSMGO and HSFO, meanwhile, has improved slightly over the same time period.
Delivery times for LSMGO in Singapore have been shortened to 3-6 days now, from 4-7 days before. HSFO stems now require 6-9 days lead time, down from 8-11 days.
Singapore’s residual fuel oil stocks rose an average of 2% in March from February, according to Enterprise Singapore. Inventories rise amid a 9% rise in net fuel oil imports. Both imports and exports increased this month.
Meanwhile, Singapore middle distillate stocks rose 23% in March.
east asia
Bunker deliveries have been suspended by bad weather in Zhoushan for the most part since Sunday, according to a source.
The Chinese bunkering center is currently experiencing strong wind gusts of 23-49 knots and waves of over one meter. Adverse weather conditions are expected to persist and bunker operations will fully resume on Thursday when calmer weather is expected.
Fast VLSFO availability remains limited in Zhoushan, with recommended delivery times of 5-8 days, almost the same as last week. HSFO stems need about seven days lead time, while LSMGO is available.
Availability of all grades of bunker fuel has been reduced in Hong Kong as replenishment cargoes have been delayed, a source said. Times of 8-9 days between degrees are now recommended, slightly more than last week’s seven days.
Meanwhile, all grades have also been reduced to ports in southern South Korea, with delivery times varying widely between 3 and 12 days. Delivery times are shorter at South Korea’s western ports by around four days across all grades, virtually unchanged from last week.
Bad weather is expected in the South Korean ports of Ulsan, Onsan, Daesan, Taean and Yeosu between today and April 9, which could make bunkering difficult.
Adverse weather conditions are also expected to hamper bunkering operations at the Vietnamese port of Ho Chi Minh City on April 8 and at the Kiwi port of Tauranga between April 7 and 8.
South Asia
Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO remains good in India’s Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Kandla, with delivery times as short as 2-3 days.
Cochin and Chennai on the south coast of India also have good availability, while VLSFO and LSMGO remain under investigation in Tuticorin and Haldia. A Paradip supplier has almost no VLSFO.
However, the Indian port of Kandla is struggling with congestion and delays, which are only expected to ease from April 7-8, and adverse weather conditions are expected to affect the west coast port of Sikka and the south west port of Visakhapatnam between 8th and 12th April. and from April 12 to 13, respectively.
Middle East
Bunker schedules are under pressure for all three grades of bunker fuel in Fujairah as several suppliers are working to clear delays caused by bad weather last week.
However, the recommended lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO have been shortened from 10-11 days last week to nine days now. HSFO requires almost 12 days, almost unchanged from last week. Some suppliers can offer fast stems of all grades depending on quantity, according to a source.
Meanwhile, the UAE port of Khorfakkan has good availability in all grades, with recommended delivery times of 5-7 days.
Source: ENGINE, by Tuhin Roy, https://engine.online/news
