Singapore and Malaysia
Bunker demand has risen in Singapore this week, according to a source. VLSFO availability remains tight, with recommended lead times of around 11 days. Some suppliers can fulfil orders with shorter lead times of around five days, though these typically come at a higher cost.
HSFO supply is also limited, requiring lead times of 7–14 days, similar to last week. By contrast, LSMGO is more available, with steady lead times of 5–8 days.
Data from Enterprise Singapore shows Singapore’s residual fuel oil stocks have averaged 7% higher this month compared to September. Fuel oil imports have surged by 48%, adding 2.33 million bbls, while exports have risen by 991,000 bbls, leading to a stock buildup. Middle distillate stocks in the port have dropped by 10% this month, reaching 9.60 million bbls—the lowest since June.
At Malaysia’s Port Klang, VLSFO and LSMGO supplies are ample, with some suppliers offering prompt delivery for smaller volumes, though HSFO availability remains tight.
East Asia
VLSFO and LSMGO availability in Zhoushan has improved, with suppliers now suggesting lead times of 5–7 days, down from 7–10 days last week. HSFO supply, however, remains limited, with several suppliers reporting low stocks and maintaining lead times at 7–10 days.
In Northern China, ports such as Dalian and Qingdao have ample VLSFO and LSMGO supplies, though HSFO is limited in Qingdao. Tianjin faces tight supplies of HSFO and LSMGO but has solid VLSFO availability. In Shanghai, LSMGO is readily available, but VLSFO and HSFO are scarce. Fuzhou has strong stocks of both VLSFO and LSMGO, while Xiamen faces LSMGO restrictions though VLSFO is well-stocked. Prompt availability of both grades remains limited in Yangpu and Guangzhou.
In Hong Kong, recommended lead times remain stable at seven days for all bunker grades. However, adverse weather conditions are forecasted for 1-2 November, which may disrupt bunker deliveries at the port.
In Taiwan’s ports of Hualien, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Keelung, VLSFO and LSMGO remain readily available, with recommended lead times of 2–3 days, consistent with last week.
Bunker operations at several Taiwanese ports may experience disruptions from Thursday through Saturday due to Typhoon Kong-Rey, according to a source.
In South Korean ports, lead times for all fuel grades vary widely between 3-14 days now. Last week, lead times in the southern ports were 3–9 days for VLSFO and LSMGO, and around five days for HSFO. In the western ports, VLSFO and LSMGO require 5–7 days, while HSFO remains limited.
High winds and waves are expected to intermittently disrupt bunker operations at Ulsan, Onsan, Busan, and Yeosu ports from Tuesday through Sunday, with further interruptions likely at Daesan and Taean on Tuesday and Saturday.
VLSFO supply is generally stable across Japanese ports, though prompt deliveries are limited in Oita. HSFO remains tight at most ports, while LSMGO is readily available at major locations, including Tokyo, Chiba, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Osaka, Kobe, Sakai, Nagoya, Yokkaichi, Mizushima, and Oita.
Adverse weather is expected over the weekend at Thailand’s ports of Koh Sichang and Laem Chabang, which could impact bunkering operations.
Oceania
A bunker barge serving Fremantle and Kwinana ports is in dry dock from early September until the third week of November, resulting in VLSFO being unavailable by barge during this period, although LSMGO will still be available at berth. The port of Kembla in Western Australia is unaffected, as bunker deliveries are conducted by truck and ex-pipe.
In New South Wales, Sydney has sufficient LSMGO, but HSFO may require longer lead times. Melbourne and Geelong in Victoria have ample supplies of VLSFO and LSMGO, although securing prompt HSFO deliveries may prove challenging.
In Queensland, Brisbane and Gladstone report adequate VLSFO and LSMGO with lead times of 7–8 days, but HSFO availability in Brisbane is limited.
In New Zealand, Tauranga and Auckland have good supplies of VLSFO, and Auckland is also well-stocked with LSMGO.
South Asia
VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains tight at several Indian ports, including Kandla, Mumbai, Tuticorin, Chennai, and Cochin, consistent with recent weeks. In Visakhapatnam and Haldia, both grades are available but limited in supply, while a supplier in Paradip is nearly out of stock.
Sri Lankan ports, such as Colombo and Hambantota, have prompt availability of VLSFO, with LSMGO and HSFO requiring short lead times of around two days, similar to last week.
Middle East
Prompt availability across all grades in Fujairah remains tight, with lead times of about 5–7 days, although some suppliers can still accommodate prompt stems. Khor Fakkan faces similar constraints, recommending lead times of 5–7 days for all grades.
Bunker supply operations at Dubai anchorage have faced disruptions this week due to rough sea conditions affecting deliveries of some suppliers since Monday, according to sources.
In Iraq’s Basrah, VLSFO and LSMGO are readily available, while both grades are nearly depleted in Qatar’s Ras Laffan. Jeddah has a good supply of LSMGO, but VLSFO is limited. Djibouti is experiencing tight supplies of both VLSFO and LSMGO.
Omani ports, including Sohar, Salalah, Muscat, and Duqm, have ample LSMGO for prompt supply.
Source: ENGINE, By Tuhin Roy,
