Americas Fuel Availability Outlook 2 Apr

US Gulf Coast fog season clears

West Coast availability tightens

Panama bunker demand remains strong

IMAGE: Gantry cranes at container terminals in Vancouver. Getty Images.

North America

Bunker fuel demand in Houston remains firm, with availability tight across all three conventional fuel grades of HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO.

Suppliers are recommending lead times of around 8–12 days, depending on enquiry size and grade requirements, a bunker trader tells ENGINE.

Weather conditions across the US Gulf Coast have improved, allowing for smoother bunker deliveries in recent days.

In the nearby Bolivar Roads, limited prompt availability has been observed.

One supplier has been able to offer VLSFO stems within 3–4 days over the past week, although typical lead times in the area generally remain above 5 days, a source said.

Deliveries at the anchorage continue to be subject to weather conditions and are currently being handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

In Mobile, the earliest delivery date for VLSFO is currently indicated between 5 and 6 April.

Meanwhile, the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) is expected to face weather-related disruptions from 2–6 April due to strong wind gusts and high seas.

"Possible delays starting 2 April through 4 April, with a full closure expected early morning on 5–6 April due to high seas," a source said.

In New York, bunker demand is strong, with availability tight for prompt deliveries across all conventional fuel grades. Suppliers are recommending lead times of over a week to 10 days to secure stems, particularly for near-term requirements.

Adverse weather conditions are expected to impact operations, with high wind gusts forecast between 2–5 April, which may lead to intermittent disruptions to bunkering activity.

Suppliers may also require the use of a standby tug during deliveries due to rough weather conditions, depending on vessel size and prevailing conditions. This will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Across the US West Coast, bunker availability is tightening, with buyers advised to secure stems well in advance to avoid delays, a bunker trader tells ENGINE.

In the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, lead times have lengthened across all grades. HSFO and LSMGO typically require around 7–9 days, while VLSFO is more constrained, often requiring 9–11 days.

The earliest delivery dates for VLSFO with most suppliers are currently indicated from around 12 April onwards.

Some suppliers at these ports are also becoming more selective, only accepting bookings for minimum stem sizes of 300–500 mt and are refraining from quoting altogether for smaller-sized stems, a source said.

Availability in Canada's Vancouver has also tightened compared to previous weeks.

Lead times across all three conventional fuel grades have extended to around 7–9 days, with reduced flexibility for prompt deliveries.

Latin America and the Caribbean

In Panama, bunker demand remains strong, with availability improving compared to last week, a trader tells ENGINE.

Recommended lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO in Balboa and Cristobal stand at around 6–7 days, while HSFO availability is relatively tighter, with most suppliers requiring longer lead times.

In Bahamas' Freeport, at least one supplier is offering HSFO and LSMGO with lead times of around 6–7 days.

Offshore Trinidad, bunkering operations may face disruptions due to high wind gusts and rough seas between 2–5 April. Delays are expected and will be determined by supply vessel conditions at the time of delivery, a source says.

In Brazil, state-owned supplier Petrobras will be closed for bunker sales on 3 April. Additionally, its Rotterdam office will remain closed on 6 April, the company notified in a client note.

Santos is seeing tightening availability for both VLSFO and LSMGO, with suppliers recommending lead times of around 7–10 days to secure prompt deliveries.

Across other key Brazilian ports, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Belém, Salvador and Vila do Conde, supply conditions are tight, with both grades typically requiring 6–8 days and offering limited flexibility for short-notice stems.

In contrast, availability remains particularly tight at OPL Sepetiba, where suppliers are only considering firm enquiries and require early confirmation, a trader said.

Paranaguá continues to show tighter VLSFO availability with lead times of about 6–8 days, while LSMGO remains subject to prior enquiry and is not consistently offered.

Itaqui still offers comparatively prompt VLSFO supply, but lead times have edged higher to around 4–5 days, while LSMGO remains unavailable at the port.

In Argentina’s Zona Comun, bunker demand remains steady with normal availability. Recommended lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO are around 7–8 days.

However, delays are expected at the anchorage due to high wind gusts forecast from early morning on 4 April through 7 April.

By Gautamee Hazarika

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