Americas Fuel Availability Outlook 17 Sep

New York HSFO availability to tighten

Panama Canal transits face delays

Supply tight in Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande

IMAGE: Cargo ship in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Getty Images

North America

Bunker demand has been good in the US Gulf Coast port of Houston over the past week and prompt fuel availability is a bit tight across most suppliers, a trader tells ENGINE.

Lead times for HSFO and LSMGO are currently estimated to be between 5-7 days, while VLSFO requires between 5-6 days.

At the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA), high winds gusts up to 24 knots are forecast in intervals between 17-19 September and could disrupt bunker operations, a source said.

Deliveries are done on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to weather conditions. Lead times for HSFO and VLSFO are between 3-7 days at the anchorage. LSMGO has been delivered by suppliers within 2-3 days over the past week.

On the East Coast, bunker demand at the port of New York has recorded neither highs nor lows this week.

Lead times for all three conventional fuel grades are between 5-8 days. HSFO availability at New York is expected to tighten over the week, a trader tells ENGINE.

Weather conditions have been calm in New York, with winds mostly below 10 knots and gusts peaking at around 18 knots on Sunday. No backlog or bunker barge readiness issues have been reported.

Bunker demand has picked up on the US West Coast compared with previous weeks, a trader said.

Availability is normal at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, where all three conventional grades require lead times of 4-7 days.

In Canada's Vancouver the market has seen healthy demand and availability is normal. HSFO and LSMGO require lead times between 4-6 days. VLSFO requires at least five days of lead time this week, a source said.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Transits through the Panama Canal are currently subject to waiting times of 3-4 days, a source said. Lower water levels at the canal have reduced the number of transit slots available in recent weeks.

Availability is normal at Balboa and Cristobal, where HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO can all be delivered within 3-4 days by most suppliers.

Deliveries at Balboa are done on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to vessels holding confirmed transit schedules, a source said.

In Colombia, prompt fuel availability is good at Cartagena, Santa Marta and Barranquilla. VLSFO and LSMGO can all be delivered within 3-4 days, a trader said.

HSFO is also available at these Colombian ports, but supply is not regular, the trader added.

HSFO supply is tight in Callao and is offered with prior consultation. VLSFO and LSMGO are more readily available and 3-7 days of lead time is recommended, a trader said.

In Brazil, availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is decent at Santos, with both grades deliverable in 6-7 days, and the port remains congested. The earliest delivery date for both the grades is 23 September, a trader said.

Supply of both grades is very tight in Rio de Janeiro, Paranagua and Rio Grande, where they are offered with prior consultation and require 7-10 days of lead time.

Belem and Vila do Conde have good availability of VLSFO and LSMGO, with lead times of 3-7 days.

At Zona Comun, VLSFO and LSMGO availability has improved, with suppliers now able to deliver within 3-6 days, down from 5-7 days previously, a source said.

Wind gusts of up to 19 knots are forecast at the Argentinian anchorage on Thursday, before conditions are set to improve after that. Deliveries are done on a first-come, first-served basis.

By Gautamee Hazarika

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