Europe & Africa Fuel Availability Outlook 4 Nov

Prompt fuel availability is tight in the ARA ports

Bunker deliveries resume off Malta after weather disruption

Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO supply available in Djibouti

IMAGE: The Europoort area in the Port of Rotterdam. Getty Images

Northwest Europe

Fuel availability is tight at the ARA bunkering hub for prompt deliveries, and buyers are advised lead times of 5-7 days to get competitive offers from a wide selection of suppliers, a trader told ENGINE.

In Rotterdam, B100 is priced at discount of more than $200/mt to LSMGO, which keeps its demand high in the Dutch port.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks averaged 2% higher in October, compared to September’s monthly average, according to Insights Global data.

The ARA hub imported 174,000 b/d of fuel oil in October, down from September’s 266,000 b/d, according to Vortexa cargo flows data. Most cargo volumes came from the US (17%), France (16%) and Syria (13%).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil - gained 5% in October, compared to September, according to the Insights Global data.

The region imported 257,000 b/d of gasoil in October, up from 197,000 b/d in September, according to Vortexa data. Most of the volumes arrived from Germany (20%), Saudi Arabia (18%) and India (17%).

Fuel availability is normal in Hamburg, with suppliers asking for a notice of five days, a trader told ENGINE.

Buyers are advised to allow longer lead times of 10 days for supplies off Denmark’s Skaw and in Sweden’s Gothenburg, a trader said.

Mediterranean

Prompt bunker fuel availability is tight at the Gibraltar Strait ports, with buyers recommended lead times of 6-7 days to get good coverage from suppliers, a trader told ENGINE.

Suppliers in Gibraltar may be delayed on deliveries by between 4-12 hours, port agent MH Bland said. In neighbouring Algeciras, suppliers could be running 8-12 hours late on deliveries, the port agent added.

Ex-pipe supplies are running on schedule in Ceuta, while barge deliveries could take around 6-8 hours, MH Bland said.

Buyers may need to account for notice of around a week for deliveries in Spain’s Barcelona.

Fuel availability is tight in Las Palmas, with buyers advised lead times of 7-8 days, a trader said.

Fuel availability is stable in Portugal’s Lisbon, with deliveries feasible with a short wait time of 3-5 days, a source told ENGINE.

Deliveries have resumed off Malta after a weather disruption, a trader told ENGINE. Deliveries are being carried out in Areas 3 and 4. Fuel availability is prompt with most suppliers but remains subject to weather conditions, the trader added.

In Greece’s Piraeus, fuel availability is tight on VLSFO and HSFO deliveries, while LSMGO deliveries are available promptly, a trader said.

Fuel availability is good in Istanbul, and demand remains stable despite a downturn in shipping activity in the Black Sea, a local supplier told ENGINE.

Africa

In the Senegalese port of Dakar, VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries are possible, starting 14 November, a supplier told ENGINE.

Fuel availability is tight in Togo’s Lome and off Namibia’s Walvis Bay, and buyers are recommended lead times of 5-7 days for VLSFO and LSMGO supplies in both locations, a trader told ENGINE.

VLSFO availability is tight in Nigeria’s Lagos anchorage, and buyers are recommended lead times of around 10 days, a local supplier told ENGINE.

VLSFO remains unavailable in Angola’s Luanda, while LSMGO deliveries require a notice of 5-6 days, a supplier said.

VLSFO availability has improved in South Africa’s Durban, a trader said.

Fuel availability is tight in Port Louis. Buyers are recommended to book 10-14 days in advance to secure supplies, a trader said.

Bunker fuel availability is tight for prompt dates in Mozambique’s Nacala and Maputo, with buyers recommended lead times of 5-7 days for most supplies, a trader told ENGINE.

VLSFO and LSMGO supply is available promptly to ships visiting Djibouti’s several Red Sea ports, a local supplier told ENGINE.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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