Europe & Africa Fuel Availability Outlook 7 Oct

Fuel availability stable in Germany’s Hamburg

Prompt supplies tight off Malta

Increased demand at South Africa’s Durban

IMAGE: Gantry cranes at the Port of Hamburg. Hamburg Port Authority

Northwest Europe

Prompt fuel availability is tight in ARA ports, and buyers are recommended lead times of 5-7 days for all fuel deliveries, a trader said.

B100 has been at significant price discounts to LSMGO in Rotterdam, which has increased its demand in the port.

The ARA's independently held fuel oil stocks averaged 18% higher in September than in August, according to Insights Global data.

The ARA hub imported 266,000 b/d of fuel oil in September, down from August's 342,000 b/d, according to Vortexa cargo flows data. Nearly half the cargo volumes came from Mexico (19%), Colombia (13%) and Benin (12%).

The region's independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil - gained 4% in September, compared to August, according to the Insights Global data.

The region imported 197,000 b/d of gasoil in September, up from 155,000 b/d in August, according to Vortexa data. Most of the volumes arrived from the US (29%), the UK (20%) and Saint Lucia (12%).

Bunker availability in Hamburg is steady, with suppliers quoting their earliest delivery dates five days out for most deliveries, a trader told ENGINE.

Off Denmark’s Skaw and in Sweden’s Gothenburg, buyers are recommended lead times of around 10 days for most deliveries, a trader told ENGINE.

Mediterranean

Prompt availability is tight in the Gibraltar Strait ports, with buyers recommended lead times of 7-10 days to get good coverage from suppliers, a trader told ENGINE.

Some suppliers are delayed by 4-8 hours on most deliveries, port agent MH Bland said.

In Algeciras, suppliers are delayed by 2-12 hours, the port agent added.

In Ceuta, barge supplies are running around 8-12 hours late, while ex-pipe deliveries are on time, MH Bland said.

In Barcelona, suppliers need seven days of lead time for deliveries of any fuel grade, a trader said.

Fuel availability is tight for prompt supplies in Las Palmas, with buyers recommended lead times of around 7-8 days to get good coverage from suppliers, a trader said.

Fuel availability is stable off Malta. VLSFO, ULSFO and LSMGO supplies are tight for prompt dates, and a lead time of five days is recommended, a trader told ENGINE.

Fuel availability is normal in Türkiye's Istanbul, with deliveries possible with a prompt notice of 1-3 days, a trader said.

Africa

Fuel availability remains tight for prompt deliveries in Togo’s Lome. Buyers should use around a week of lead time for VLSFO and LSMGO supplies, a trader told ENGINE.

Buyers are recommended lead times of 7-10 days for VLSFO deliveries at the Lagos anchorage in Nigeria, a local supplier told ENGINE. Bunker demand remains subdued at the anchorage, with oil tankers accounting for most of the demand, the supplier said.

Off Namibia’s Walvis Bay, prompt availability is limited. Buyers are advised to allow 5-7 days’ lead time for VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries, a trader told ENGINE.

Availability is extremely tight in South Africa’s Durban amid increased demand at the country’s ports, and buyers are advised lead times of around 10-15 days for bunker supplies, a trader told ENGINE.

Bunker availability remains very tight in Port Louis. Buyers are advised to place orders 10-14 days ahead to secure supplies, a trader said.

Fuel availability is tight for prompt supplies in the Mozambican ports of Nacala and Maputo, with buyers recommended lead times of 5-7 days for most supplies, a trader told ENGINE.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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