East of Suez Market Update 3 Nov 2025
Bunker prices in East of Suez ports have moved in mixed directions, and prompt supply is tight in Fujairah.
IMAGE: Bunker barge at berth in Fujairah, UAE. Port of Fujairah
Changes on the day from Friday, to 17.00 SGT (09.00 GMT) today:
- VLSFO prices up in Fujairah ($11/mt), Singapore ($3/mt) and Zhoushan ($1/mt)
- LSMGO prices up in Singapore ($3/mt), and down in Fujairah ($15/mt) and Zhoushan ($4/mt)
- HSFO prices up in Zhoushan ($4/mt), and down in Fujairah ($15/mt) and Singapore ($8/mt)
- B30-VLSFO at a $241/mt premium over VLSFO in Singapore
- B30-VLSFO at a $252/mt premium over VLSFO in Fujairah
Fujairah’s VLSFO price has increased by $11/mt over the weekend. Despite the rise, the port’s benchmark is at a $24/mt discount to Zhoushan.
Bunker operations in Fujairah have resumed after being halted on Saturday due to rough weather conditions, a trader said. However, one supplier has confirmed a backlog of 3-4 vessels today.
Prompt supply of all grades remains tight in Fujairah, with recommended lead times of around 5-7 days.
Bunker demand in China’s Zhoushan continues to be weak, with most suppliers recommending lead times of around 6 to 8 days for VLSFO. HSFO lead times have increased from around four days last week to 6-8 days now, whereas LSMGO lead times have held steady at 2-4 days.
Prompt delivery of VLSFO and LSMGO is possible at the Taiwanese ports of Taichung, Keelung, Hualien and Kaohsiung, with some suppliers recommending lead times of around two days.
Brent
The front-month ICE Brent has remained unchanged on the day from Friday, to trade at $64.66/bbl at 17.00 SGT (09.00 GMT) today.
Upward pressure:
Brent crude’s price has felt some upward pressure after official drilling figures showed a decrease in US oil rigs.
The total number of oil rigs fell by six over the week to 414, according to Baker Hughes.
The US oil rig count is seen as an indicator of future oil production. It reflects how much oil drilling activity is happening or expected to happen in the shale sector.
“The broader weakness in oil prices continues to weigh on drilling activity in the US,” two analysts from ING Bank noted.
Downward pressure:
OPEC+ has decided to continue with production hikes until the end of this year. This news has capped Brent’s price rise today.
Eight members of the group have agreed to collectively increase their production by another 137,000 b/d in December.
This marks the group's eighth consecutive plan to boost production. The move was “widely expected,” according to ING Bank’s analysts.
In an oversupplied market, any signal of increased future supply can put downward pressure on Brent’s price.
By Aparupa Mazumder
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