Europe & Africa Fuel Availability Outlook 23 Sep

Prompt availability tight in ARA ports

Busy summer cruise season increases lead times in Piraeus

Increase in demand tightens availability in South African ports

IMAGE: Aerial view of Durban port landscape. Getty Images

Northwest Europe

Fuel availability in the ARA is tight for prompt delivery dates, and buyers are recommended lead times of 5-7 days to secure supplies at competitive prices, a trader told ENGINE.

The ARA's independently held fuel oil stocks have averaged 17% higher in September so far compared with August's monthly average, according to Insights Global data.

The ARA hub has imported around 297,000 b/d of fuel oil in September so far, down from around 342,000 b/d in August, according to Vortexa cargo flows data.

Most shipments have arrived from Mexico (24%), Benin (19%) and France (15%).

The region's independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil - have risen by 2% in September so far, compared to August, according to the Insights Global data.

The region has imported around 141,000 b/d of gasoil in September so far, down from an average of around 155,000 b/d imported in August, according to Vortexa data. A majority of shipments have arrived from the US (28%), Germany (13%) and the UK (11%).

Fuel availability in Hamburg is steady, with five days’ notice recommended to secure any grade in the German port, a trader told ENGINE.

Bunker availability remains tight off Skaw and in Gothenburg, and buyers are asked to give around 10-14 days for delivery of any grade in the Scandinavian hubs, a trader said.

Mediterranean

Prompt fuel availability at ports in the Gibraltar Strait is tight, with lead times of 10-12 days recommended for reliable coverage, a trader told ENGINE.

Gibraltar is seeing slight congestion, with around eight vessels currently awaiting bunkers, port agent MH Bland said. Bunkering delays of around 4-8 hours can be expected in the port. Some suppliers in Algeciras can be delayed by around 18-24 hours, the port agent added.

In the Spanish port of Ceuta, barge and ex-pipe deliveries are running on schedule now, after slight delays seen last week, the port agent said.

Fuel availability is tight in Las Palmas, and buyers are recommended lead times of around 10-12 days to secure deliveries, a trader noted.

LSMGO is seeing high demand off Malta. Fuel availability is comparatively stable compared to last week, and lead times have reduced to 3-4 days for LSMGO, VLSFO and ULSFO, compared to 5-7 days last week, a trader said.

Fuel availability in Greece’s Piraeus is tight for HSFO, VLSFO and ULSFO, and buyers are recommended lead times of around 5-7 days for those grades, a trader said. LSMGO deliveries are more prompt, with a notice of three days sufficient, according to the trader.

The port is seeing a busy summer cruise season, and barge availability is an issue in Piraeus, especially for HSFO, the trader added.

Istanbul fuel availability is stable, with every grade obtainable on 1-4 days of notice, a trader said.

Africa

In Senegal’s Dakar, fuel availability is stable and stems can be delivered promptly by at least one supplier.

In the Togolese port of Lome, prompt VLSFO and LSMGO supply is a bit tight due to high demand, and buyers are recommended to book with lead times of at least a week, a trader told ENGINE.

In Nigeria’s Lagos anchorage, VLSFO fuel supplies are tight with buyers recommended at least nine days' notice for deliveries, a local supplier told ENGINE.

Off Namibia's Walvis Bay, prompt fuel availability is tight, and buyers have been advised to book with lead times between 5-7 days for VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries, a trader told ENGINE.

Increasing demand has tightened fuel availability in South African hubs like Durban, Algoa Bay, Richards Bay and Cape Town, a trader said. Some suppliers in these ports need at least 10-15 days of lead time to arrange deliveries of HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO, the trader added.

Fuel availability remains very tight in Port Louis, with buyers recommended to book around 10-14 days ahead to get deliveries of VLSFO and LSMGO, a trader said. HSFO availability is very limited in the port.

VLSFO availability remains tight for prompt supplies at the Mozambican ports of Nacala and Maputo, where notice of seven days is recommended, a trader told ENGINE.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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