East of Suez Fuel Availability Outlook 12 May

Bunker supply tight in Singapore

Bunker availability improves in Zhoushan

Fuel availability tight across all grades in Fujairah

IMAGE: Container cargo freight ship with working crane bridge in shipyard in Singapore. Getty Images

Singapore and Malaysia

VLSFO and HSFO availability in Singapore is very tight right now. VLSFO delivery schedules in the port have stretched further, now ranging between 12-14 days, compared to 9-18 days previously. HSFO lead times stand at 9-14 days, from last week’s 4-10-day window. LSMGO availability has tightened as well, with lead times extending to 8-9 days, from last week’s 5-9 days.

There are very limited suppliers offering small HSFO parcels in Singapore, and a premium is expected for quantities of 500 mt and below, a trader said.

At Malaysia’s Port Klang, VLSFO supply remains relatively stable, especially for smaller prompt volumes. Tighter conditions persist for LSMGO, while HSFO availability continues to face constraints, making both grades increasingly difficult to secure.

East Asia

Availability in Zhoushan has slightly improved this week, with lead times for all grades shortening to around 4-7 days, down from last week's 5-7 days.

Bunker availability across northern China remains mixed, with lead times ranging between 4-7 days for all grades. Dalian and Qingdao are well supplied with VLSFO and LSMGO, although HSFO is tight in Qingdao. In Shanghai, VLSFO and HSFO availability is limited, while LSMGO supply remains relatively stable.

Prompt bunker fuel availability has improved in southern Chinese ports. Lead times here range between 3-6 days, another trader said. Notably, Fuzhou is tight on both VLSFO and LSMGO, while Xiamen has adequate VLSFO but limited LSMGO.

HSFO availability in Hong Kong is exceptionally this week. Expected lead times for all grades are around seven days at least.

Taiwan’s bunker market remains steady, according to another trader. Lead times are approximately four days for both VLSFO and LSMGO at Keelung. In Hualien, Taichung and Kaohsiung, lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO range between 2-3 days. There are no barges available at Suao and Hualien, the trader said.

In South Korea’s southern ports - Busan, Ulsan, Masan, Onsan, Yeosu and Kwangyang – availability of all three conventional bunker grades is tight. Recommended lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO are at around 7-10 days, up from last week’s 3-5 days.

Across western ports, including Incheon, Daesan, Dangjin, Pyeongtaek and Taean, lead times remain around eight days for all grades, higher than the previous week’s estimates of five days.

In Japan, supply conditions remain largely tight across key hubs such as Tokyo Bay, Nagoya and Osaka. “Major Japanese refiners have significantly curtailed spot supply for ocean-going vessels to prioritize domestic demand,” a trader said.

Overall, LSMGO availability in Japanese ports is extremely scarce, the trader said. “A domestic shortage of gasoil has led to a near-total absence of offers for the bunker market,” he added.

Recommended lead times stand at approximately 10-11 days for HSFO and VLSFO across major ports including Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka.

Oceania

Bunker supply conditions vary across Australia’s east coast. In New South Wales, VLSFO can be delivered in Port Kembla by truck or pipeline. Suppliers in Sydney have ample VLSFO and LSMGO stocks, though HSFO availability remains constrained, with lead times of about seven days.

In Western Australia, VLSFO supply in Kwinana and Fremantle is available through a single barge operator, with lead times generally standing at about seven days.

In Queensland, suppliers in Brisbane and Gladstone are indicating lead times of around seven days for VLSFO and LSMGO. Deliveries of VLSFO and LSMGO are carried out by two separate barges operated by different suppliers, while HSFO supply depends on request.

Supply conditions in Victoria are comparatively steady, with Melbourne and Geelong holding sufficient VLSFO inventories, although prompt HSFO supply remains tight. Bunker operations at both ports rely on a single barge, with recommended lead times of roughly seven days.

In New Zealand, bunker availability continues to be steady. VLSFO is easily accessible in Tauranga and Auckland, with certain Tauranga berths linked to pipeline infrastructure. At Marsden Point, vessels can receive both VLSFO and LSMGO directly through pipeline deliveries.

South Asia

In India, VLSFO availability continues to be constrained at Kandla, Sikka, Hazira and New Mangalore.

Prompt bunker supply remains strong in Sri Lanka, with Colombo and Hambantota carrying sufficient stocks across all fuel grades and at least one supplier capable of offering immediate deliveries.

Middle East

Prompt bunker availability in Fujairah across all grades is very tight currently, with supply across all grades subject to enquiry, another source said.

Bunker demand has substantially dropped in Fujairah as many vessels continue to wait until transit through the Strait of Hormuz – currently under a US blockade – clears. Only a handful of suppliers can provide fuel grades in the port, “as no imports coming in at the moment,” the source said.

Bunker demand in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah is moderate. There is adequate LSMGO available at the port, while VLSFO remains constrained.

Operations at Kuwait’s Shuaiba and Shuwaikh continue without disruption. Meanwhile, LSMGO availability is tight at Djibouti.

In Qatar, bunkering is proceeding without issues at Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais, with operations also ongoing at Mesaieed and Ras Laffan. However, VLSFO and LSMGO supply remains constrained in Ras Laffan.

By Aparupa Mazumder

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