East of Suez Fuel Availability Outlook 14 Apr

Zhoushan facing weather-related disruptions

Availability good across several Sri Lankan ports

Operations continue despite war in most Middle East ports

IMAGE: White lighthouse and traffic control tower in front of the Port of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Getty Images

Singapore and Malaysia

Bunker prices in Singapore have remained firm despite muted demand and been supported by the war in the Middle East. The war has choked off most oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global oil trade.

In Singapore, VLSFO lead times now range widely between 4–13 days, compared to 6–11 days last week. HSFO lead times have widened to a 3–12-day range, versus 7–10 days previously.

The wide spread in lead times is a sign that some suppliers are still able to offer prompt delivery dates, a source said.

Recommended lead times for LSMGO stand at 2–7 days, broadly unchanged from last week.

Singapore’s residual fuel oil stocks have averaged 9% lower so far in April compared to March, according to data from Enterprise Singapore. Total fuel oil inventories have fallen below 22 million bbls, following a sharp 57% decline in net fuel oil imports so far this month. Imports have dropped by 2.73 million bbls, while exports have edged lower by 34,000 bbls.

Meanwhile, the port’s middle distillate inventories have averaged 7% higher so far this month, reaching their highest level since November.

At Port Klang, VLSFO availability remains relatively stable, especially for smaller prompt stems. However, LSMGO supply has tightened, while HSFO availability remains constrained, making both grades increasingly difficult to secure.

East Asia

Bunkering at Zhoushan’s Tiaozhoumen and Xiazhimen outer anchorages was halted for nearly a week due to rough weather, before resuming on Tuesday, a source said. In contrast, operations continued without interruption at the more sheltered Xiushandong anchorage and the inner anchorage at Mazhi.

The disruption has created a backlog of 50–60 vessels waiting to refuel, a trader noted. Suppliers are now recommending lead times of 5–7 days for all grades as they work through the congestion, compared to last week’s 7–10 days for VLSFO and 5–10 days for both LSMGO and HSFO.

However, bunkering could be suspended again by thick fog across all anchorages later on Tuesday, another source added.

Across northern China, supply conditions remain mixed. Dalian and Qingdao have sufficient VLSFO and LSMGO availability, although HSFO remains limited in Qingdao. Tianjin is experiencing tight supply across all grades, while in Shanghai, VLSFO and HSFO stocks are constrained, with LSMGO availability relatively steady.

Further south, tighter conditions persist. Fuzhou is facing limited availability of both VLSFO and LSMGO. Xiamen has adequate VLSFO supply but restricted LSMGO volumes. In Yangpu and Guangzhou, both grades remain under pressure.

In Hong Kong, bunker supply is largely stable, with lead times for all grades holding at around seven days in recent weeks.

In Taiwan, supply has to some extent been impacted by the Middle East war, although price volatility has been more pronounced. Fluctuations in crude prices have significantly influenced bunker markets, a Taiwan-based trader said.

Recommended lead times remain around two days for VLSFO and LSMGO in Keelung, Taichung and Hualien, while Kaohsiung requires about three days.

In South Korea’s southern ports - including Busan, Ulsan, Masan, Onsan, Yeosu and Kwangyang - advised lead times for all fuel grades have been extended to around 4–6 days, largely unchanged from 4–5 days the previous week.

At western ports such as Incheon, Daesan, Dangjin, Pyeongtaek and Taean, lead times stand at about 2–7 days, compared to around four days last week. However, availability across both coasts remains dependent on cargo availability.

Weather conditions continue to disrupt operations, with potential delays expected in Busan and Ulsan between 14–17 April, and in Yeosu between 16–19 April.

In Japan, tight conditions for bonded bunkers persist, driven by ongoing crude procurement constraints and the Middle East war. Spot supply remains virtually unavailable.

For HSFO, limited availability continues to emerge due to refinery operations and isolated issues. VLSFO supply is restricted to small spot parcels of 100–300 mt, while MGO availability remains critically tight.

Most Japanese suppliers are quoting discreetly, with transactions requiring private, one-on-one negotiations rather than open market inquiries, according to a Japan-based trader.

All confirmed offers are limited to small parcels of under 300 mt. One supplier can offer HSFO volumes of up to 2,000 mt, but only for exclusive, targeted inquiries. Small spot VLSFO parcels (100–300 mt) are still available through some suppliers, the source added.

As a result, availability across all fuel grades in major Japanese hubs - including Tokyo, Chiba, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Nagoya, Yokkaichi, Mizushima, Kashima, Tokuyama and Oita - is now being assessed strictly on a case-by-case basis.

Oceania

Bunker prices across several Australian ports remain elevated, largely underpinned by the ongoing Middle East war, an Australia-based trader said.

In response, the Australian government halved fuel excise duties on petrol and diesel for a three-month period from 1 April.

Supply pressures are beginning to surface, with ports such as Dampier, Darwin, Kwinana and Melbourne nearing depletion of LSMGO stocks, the trader added.

In Western Australia, VLSFO supply at Kwinana and Fremantle typically requires about one week’s notice, with deliveries carried out by barge through a single supplier.

In New South Wales, VLSFO deliveries at Port Kembla can be arranged via truck or pipeline. Suppliers in Sydney hold ample VLSFO and LSMGO inventories, although HSFO remains tight, with lead times of around seven days advised.

In Queensland, ports including Brisbane and Gladstone are offering VLSFO and LSMGO with lead times of roughly seven days. HSFO in Brisbane is available on request. Deliveries of VLSFO and LSMGO are handled by two barges operated by separate suppliers, while HSFO availability is only given depending on the enquiry.

In Victoria, VLSFO stocks remain strong in both Melbourne and Geelong, while HSFO availability is limited for prompt supply. Bunkering in these ports relies on a single barge, with recommended lead times of close to seven days.

In New Zealand, bunker supply conditions are stable. VLSFO is readily available in Tauranga and Auckland, with some Tauranga berths connected by pipeline. At Marsden Point, both VLSFO and LSMGO can be supplied via pipeline to vessels.

South Asia

Supply of VLSFO and LSMGO remains constrained across several Indian ports. In Mumbai and New Mangalore, availability of both grades is tight and subject to firm enquiry, a source said.

In Sri Lanka, supply conditions at Colombo and Hambantota remain healthy across all grades, with one supplier quoting lead times of around five days, slightly up from three days last week.

Middle East

“Things are starting to improve slightly [in the Middle East] following recent news after the temporary ceasefire in the Middle East, oil flows have partially resumed and market pressure has eased,” a local trader said.

Bunkering at the Port of Fujairah continues without interruption despite ongoing regional tensions, though supply remains tight.

Last month, authorities in Fujairah and Khor Fakkan issued navigational warnings following reports of intermittent GPS spoofing and signal jamming offshore. According to Inchcape Shipping, such disruptions can result in inaccurate positioning, erratic vessel movements and misleading navigation data, prompting mariners to treat the area as high risk.

Nevertheless, most terminals and anchorages remain operational.

“Avails [are] ok as off now, all offers are subject to firm inquiry,” another trader said.

Bunkering is ongoing, but some suppliers are loading barges only in line with actual demand rather than at full capacity. Demand in Fujairah remains subdued, the trader added.

Elsewhere in the UAE, operations at Jebel Ali, Hamriyah and Sharjah continue as normal. Petroleum terminals in Abu Dhabi, including Ruwais, are also functioning without disruption.

Ship-to-ship (STS) operations at the Dubai anchorage have resumed with tug assistance. Each operation is being assessed on a case-by-case basis, Inchcape Shipping agency said.

“However, the situation is still fragile, as the recent conflict and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz had previously tightened supply and pushed prices up sharply, so the market remains sensitive to any new developments,” a Middle East-based trader warned.

Ports in Ras Al Khaimah remain fully operational. However, in March, RAK Ports introduced a marine risk surcharge for all vessels calling at its ports, harbours, anchorages and approaches, according to Inchcape Shipping.

In Kuwait, both Shuaiba and Shuwaikh continue to operate normally.

In Saudi Arabia, no formal alerts have been issued, although bunker availability remains tight in Jeddah, particularly for VLSFO and LSMGO.

In Qatar, port operations and vessel movements remain steady at Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais, with activity also continuing at Mesaieed and Ras Laffan. However, VLSFO and LSMGO supply is tight in Ras Laffan, while in Al Ruwais it is limited to smaller vessels such as dhows and barges.

In Oman, all ports remain fully operational. Availability, including LSMGO, is good in Muscat, Duqm and Sohar, with prompt lead times, the source added.

In Bahrain, vessel movements are gradually resuming, although operations remain limited under current conditions. The Suez Canal and all Egyptian ports continue to function normally, while conditions remain stable in Jordan. Ports in Iraq, Cyprus, Pakistan and Lebanon are also operating as usual.

Meanwhile, Israeli ports - including Eilat, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Hadera and Haifa - are operating at full capacity, Inchcape Shipping said.

By Tuhin Roy

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