Americas Fuel Availability Outlook 20 Aug

HSFO availability tight in Houston

Bunker demand dips in Panama

Bunker availability improves in Paranagua

IMAGE: Aerial view of Rio de Janeiro port. Getty Images

North America

Bunker fuel demand in Houston has remained steady since last week. HSFO prompt availability at the port is tight, with lead times of around 7–8 days

At least two suppliers confirmed they are currently only offering VLSFO and LSMGO. Lead times for both these grades are between 5–6 days.

In the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA), bunkering operations are underway on a first come-first basis.

However, weather is likely to get rough by the end of the week, which might create disruptions through 25 August, a source said.

Availability is okay at GOLA, where suppliers can offer HSFO and LSMGO with lead times of 3–4 days. VLSFO can be delivered in around 5–6 days.

The Atlantic hurricane season is currently underway. The National Hurricane Center has issued advisories for Hurricane Lala in the eastern Pacific.

As part of the US push to explore nuclear-powered shipping, the Port of Corpus Christi this week signed agreements with MARAD and CORE POWER to assess nuclear technology for port infrastructure and vessel propulsion.

In New York, demand has remained steady for both HSFO and LSMGO this week. The recommended lead times for HSFO and VLSFO are between 5-7 days. LSMGO has better availability and can be supplied within 2-3 days.

Weather conditions at the port are normal, with winds blowing between 5–10 knots and waves rising up to 1–2 feet.

In Los Angeles and Long Beach on the US West Coast, all three grades have normal availability, with lead times of 6–8 days.

In Vancouver, Canada, HSFO is available for delivery from 27–28 August. VLSFO and LSMGO are also available at the port, with lead times of 4–8 days depending on stem size, a trader said.

Latin America and the Caribbean

In Panama, bunker demand has dropped compared to the past few weeks, a trader said.

On the supply side, Balboa and Cristobal report steady availability, with all three fuel grades of HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO requiring 5–7 days of lead time.

In Colombia, VLSFO and LSMGO are widely available across Cartagena, Santa Marta and Barranquilla, with earliest delivery dates of 3–4 days.

HSFO is not regularly available at Colombian ports, although it can be supplied periodically in ports such as Buenaventura and Cartagena.

In Brazil, the port of Santos is congested. VLSFO is available but tight, and LSMGO has normal availability, with recommended lead times of around 6–7 days.

At Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Itaqui, Belém and Vila do Conde, availability for both VLSFO and LSMGO are okay, and can be delivered in 3-4 days of lead time.

At OPL Sepetiba, both the grades are available with earliest delivery dates around 27-29 August. In Salvador, grades can be supplied within 5-8 days.

In Paranagua, availability has improved for both VLSFO and LSMGO. Suppliers have recommended lead times of under a week to seven days.

In Argentina, bunker market has seen a dip in demand this week, according to a local bunker trader.

At the Zona Comun anchorage, VLSFO and LSMGO are available via barges, with lead times of 6–7 days. Five barges are currently in operation, according to a source.

Operations remain normal, although there may be a few interruptions; however, they’re mostly short-lived, the source added.

By Gautamee Hazarika

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