Americas Fuel Availability Outlook 5 Feb

HSFO supply in Houston tightens

VLSFO and HSFO availability very tight in Panama

Bunker demand picks up in Zona Comun

IMAGE: The tugs and cargo ships docked at Freeport, Bahamas. Getty Images.

North America

In Houston, weather conditions have caused intermittent channel closures of the Houston Ship Channel and resulted in bunkering operation delays this week, a trader tells ENGINE. With the ongoing seasonal fog and high wind gusts, the delays are expected to last until the next 6 weeks.

Bunker demand at the port has held firm meanwhile, with Houston providing the cheapest bunkering options, compared to New York and Los Angeles.

HSFO is tightening at the port for prompt supply, with most suppliers recommending lead times of at least a week. Meanwhile, VLSFO and LSMGO can be delivered within 5-7 days, a source said.

At the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA), bunkering operations may be disrupted between 5-6 February amid forecasts of high seas and strong wind gusts.

Deliveries continue on a first-come, first-served basis and remain subject to weather conditions. If waves exceed 5 feet, bunkering will be suspended at the anchorage.

In New York, cold weather has been affecting bunker deliveries, with ice a prevalent problem in the New York Harbour, Philadelphia and Baltimore, a source said.

HSFO is tight at the port and requires notice of 6-7 days this week, followed by VLSFO, which can be delivered with a 4-day lead time. Meanwhile, LSMGO is better placed for prompt delivery, with most suppliers able to deliver within recommended lead times of 1-2 days.

New York may face bunker delivery delays between 7-8 February, due to high wind gusts.

While no backlog congestion has been reported, bunker barge readiness could be affected, with standby tugs required on a case-by-case basis, depending on supplier assessments, a source said.

On the West Coast, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have normal availability, with most suppliers able to deliver all three conventional fuel grades within 6-7 days.

Container traffic is expected to increase, with 25 vessel arrivals forecast for next week, up from 19 this week, according to the ports’ vessel tracker, Signal.

In Canada’s Vancouver, HSFO can be delivered within 4–5 days. VLSFO and LSMGO are available within 4–8 days.

Latin America and the Caribbean

In Panama, bunker fuel demand has held steady this week. VLSFO and HSFO is very tight at the ports of Balboa and Cristobal, and require over a week at least to secure suppliers, a trader informed ENGINE.

"Recommend over a week lead time and proactive approaches to secure avails," the trader said.

LSMGO can be delivered within 3-5 days.

In Balboa, high wind gusts may disrupt bunkering operations today. Deliveries are being handled on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to weather conditions. Priority is given to vessels holding confirmed Panama Canal transit schedules.

In Colombia, VLSFO is available with lead times of around 2 days, while LSMGO requires about 3 days. In ports where HSFO is offered, such as Santa Marta and Barranquilla, the earliest delivery dates are also at around 3 days, a bunker trader said.

Trinidad Offshore may see operational delays between 5–8 February, due to high wind gusts and rough seas. Deliveries are conducted while underway, and any delays will be determined by the supplying vessel at the time of delivery.

Bunkering operations in Freeport, Bahamas, may be affected between 5–8 February due to persistent high wind gusts. Deliveries are conducted at anchorage, where cruise vessels are being prioritised, and delays to bunker deliveries remain possible during this period.

In Brazil, VLSFO and LSMGO availability is steady in Santos, with lead times of around 5–8 days.

This week, the Brazilian state energy producer Petrobras announced a rollback on volume-linked bunker discounts at the Port of Santos, saying it will discontinue differentiated pricing for stems above 1500 mt from 1 March.

In Rio de Janeiro, availability is okay for both grades and requires 4-5 days this week.

At OPL Sepetiba, availability is tight for both the grades. In Salvador, availability is good and the earliest delivery date is 6-7 February for both the grades.

Paranaguá has normal VLSFO availability with lead times between in 4–5 days, while LSMGO is available only under prior consultation, a trader tells ENGINE.

Across Rio Grande, Belém, and Vila do Conde, both grades are available and can be supplied within the recommended lead times of 4–5 days.

In Itaqui, the earliest delivery date for VLSFO and LSMGO is between 1-2 days.

Argentina's Zona Común has seen an increase in bunker demand after bunker fuel restrictions were lifted, beginning 1 January.

Some vessels are lifting more bunker volumes than required for their immediate voyages, as prices at the anchorage are marginally more competitive than nearby ports, a local communications executive informed.

While the price difference remains small, sources said this marks a shift in buying behaviour, as vessels are now permitted to load bunker volumes without restriction.

Both VLSFO and LSMGO are available at the anchorage within 7 days.

In Zona Común, adverse weather conditions are expected between 4–9 February, with high wind gusts posing a risk to bunker operations.

Deliveries are being managed on a first-come, first-served basis, but bunkering will be suspended when wind speeds exceed 20 knots, in line with local authority guidelines.

By Gautamee Hazarika

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