Americas Fuel Availability Outlook 11 Dec

Houston avails expected to tighten

Steady bunker demand in Panama

VLSFO tight in Santos

IMAGE: A cargo ship docked at the Port of Houston. Getty Images

North America

In Houston, bunker demand has been steady, since the beginning of December, and premiums over bunker fuels are expected to strengthen.

VLSFO and LSMGO at the port this week can be delivered within lead times of 3–5 days. HSFO is a bit tight for prompt delivery and has been requiring at least 7 days of lead time.

HSFO at the port this week has been trading at the year’s lowest levels; however, prices are expected to rise through the end of the year as supplies tighten, a source said.

Availability for all three conventional fuels is expected to tighten, with most suppliers running their inventories low ahead of the next calendar year, a source reported.

In terms of weather conditions, delays have been prevalent due to multiple cold fronts moving through the area.

"We are dealing with fog this week in Houston, and then weather is going to get rough on 14 December," a source told ENGINE.

High winds and fog have caused intermittent suspensions in bunker operations at Bolivar Roads and in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA). These seasonal weather disruptions are expected to persist through March next year.

At the anchorage of GOLA, HSFO and LSMGO are currently available with lead times of 3–4 days, while VLSFO requires around five days.

The Galveston LNG Bunker Port signed an agreement this week with an unnamed international shipping firm to supply LNG bunker fuel starting in 2029.

In New York, demand for VLSFO and HSFO has remained steady; however, the New York Harbor is reporting a recent shrink in demand for LSMGO.

Much like Houston, bunker fuel availability at the port is expected to wane into year-end.

This week, VLSFO can be delivered within recommended lead times of 5–6 days. LSMGO has much better availability and can be delivered by most suppliers in 2–3 days. HSFO at the port requires 7–8 days this week.

In New York, a small craft advisory is currently in effect through this evening, which can restrict barge movements and lead to brief delays in bunkering at the port.
Winds are currently blowing between 25–30 knots, resulting in 2–3 ft waves.

By the morning of 12 December, winds are expected to diminish to 10–15 knots in the afternoon, with waves between 1–2 ft.

On the West Coast, the Port of Los Angeles is seeing rising premiums compared to East Coast hubs. Bunker demand at both twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach is reported to be steady.

Container vessel traffic is set to decrease, with 18 arrivals expected next week, down from 23 this week, according to the port’s vessel tracker, Signal.

In Vancouver, HSFO can be supplied from 11–12 December, while VLSFO and LSMGO remain available with lead times ranging between 4–8 days.

Latin America and the Caribbean

In Panama, bunker fuel demand has held steady so far this week. In ports of Balboa and Cristobal, VLSFO and LSMGO can be delivered within lead times of 3–6 days.

For HSFO, suppliers have recommended 4–7 days of lead time.

In Colombia, VLSFO and LSMGO have good availability for prompt delivery across Cartagena, Santa Marta and Barranquilla, with the earliest delivery possible within 2-3 days.

In Brazil, VLSFO is tight in Santos and suppliers have recommended lead times of around 6–8 days. LSMGO can be delivered within 5-6 days of lead time.

Across Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Belém and Vila do Conde, both grades are available and can be supplied within recommended lead times of 4–5 days.

At OPL Sepetiba, VLSFO and LSMGO continue to be unavailable, with reloading expected before 14 January 2026, according to sources.

In Salvador, earliest supply for both grades is between 14–15 December.

Paranaguá has decent VLSFO availability with recommended lead times of 4–5 days. LSMGO is unavailable at the port.

Meanwhile, Itaqui has good availability of both VLSFO and LSMGO, with supplies possible by 12-13 December.

In Argentina's Zona Común, current weather conditions continue to support bunkering operations at the anchorage; however, high wind gusts are expected early Friday, which can result in brief disruptions, a source said.

Supply of both VLSFO and LSMGO has been mostly done by suppliers this week within 5-7 days.

By Gautamee Hazarika

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