Europe & Africa Fuel Availability Outlook 8 Apr

Fuel availability remains stable in the ARA

Bunkering in Las Palmas disrupted by rough weather

Bunker availability very tight in Port Louis

IMAGE: Aerial view of the Bay of Gibraltar. Getty Images

Northwest Europe

Marine fuel availability remains stable in the ARA bunkering hub, but buyers are advised to enquire about stems about five days in advance to get competitive offers from a wide selection of suppliers, a trader said.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks averaged 20% lower in March than in February, according to Insights Global data.

The region imported around 207,000 b/d of fuel oil in March, up from 192,000 b/d imported in February, according to cargo tracker Vortexa. Most supplies arrived from Denmark (14%), Poland (12%) and Estonia (11%).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil – dipped 1% lower in March, compared to February.

The ARA imported 291,000 b/d of gasoil in March, down from the 304,000 b/d in February, according to Vortexa data. Around 32% of import volumes arrived from Kuwait, followed by the US (20%).

In Germany’s Hamburg, fuel availability is normal with all fuel grades readily available with around five days of notice, a trader said.

Bunker availability is very tight in Sweden’s Gothenburg and off Denmark’s Skaw, a trader told ENGINE.

Mediterranean

Fuel availability is tight for all grades in the Gibraltar strait, and buyers are being advised lead times of around a week to get good coverage from suppliers, a trader said.

Demand is stable in the Port of Gibraltar, with around 48 vessels expected to call for bunkers between 8-17 April, shipping agent A Mateos & Sons said.

In Barcelona, a notice of a week is required for delivery of bunkers, a trader said.

Securing prompt supplies of any fuel grade is challenging in Las Palmas, with suppliers requesting around seven days of notice, a trader said.

Adverse weather conditions are further complicating bunker deliveries at the Canary Islands hub, the trader added.

High swells of more than 2 metres are seen in the port. All bunkering operations at the outer anchorage area are cancelled, while vessels can continue to bunker in the inner anchorage and at the berth, port agent MH Bland said.

Delays of around 2-3 days are expected in the inner anchorages area and around a day’s delay can be expected at the berth depending upon line up and vessel operations, shipping agent A Mateos & Sons said.

In Spain’s Coruna, prompt LSMGO supplies are available in around 1-2 days, a trader said.

At the Portuguese port of Leixoes, suppliers can deliver LSMGO with a 2-3-day notice, a trader said.

Weather conditions have improved off Malta since last week. Demand has also picked up in the port, a trader said. Lead time of around a week is recommended to avoid high premiums, the trader said.

Fuel availability and demand remain good in Turkey's Istanbul, a local supplier told ENGINE.

A supplier said they can deliver LSMGO by truck in the Black Sea ports of Constantza, Midia and Mangalia. Cargo availability has been tight due to the conflict in the Middle East, the supplier said.

Africa

In the Togolese port of Lome and off Namibia’s Walvis Bay, fuel availability is tight amid increased demand, and longer lead times of around 10 days are being advised, a trader said

In Angola’s Luanda, a supplier said they can deliver LSMGO within around 7-10 days, while VLSFO replenishments are expected by end of April, a supplier told ENGINE.

A local supplier in Nigeria’s Lagos anchorage said they can carry out VLSFO deliveries with around 10 days of notice.

In South Africa’s Durban and Richards Bay, supplies are tight and long lead times are recommended, a trader said.

Fuel availability is very tight in Mauritius’s Port Louis as demand remains high, with one supplier able to deliver earliest around 10 days out, according to a trader.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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