Europe & Africa Fuel Availability Outlook 17 Dec

Prompt supplies remain tight in Gibraltar

Lisbon deliveries need notice of five days

Walvis Bay deliveries still limited to anchorage

IMAGE: Aerial view of the Port of Barcelona. Getty Images

Northwest Europe

Prompt supplies remain tight in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) bunkering hub. Buyers are advised to enquire about stems with a lead time of between 5-7 days to get competitive offers from a large selection of suppliers, a trader said.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have edged 1% higher in December to date, according to Insights Global data.

The region has imported 154,000 b/d of fuel oil so far this month, up from November’s 141,000 b/d, according to cargo tracker Vortexa. A large share of these shipments has arrived from Saudi Arabia (41%) and Poland (24%).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil - have slumped 9% lower this month, according to the Insights Global data. The ARA has imported 192,000 b/d of gasoil, down from the 225,000 b/d imported in November, according to Vortexa data. The US (23%), France (20%) and the UK (17%) have been the source of most of the gasoil.

In Germany’s Hamburg, availability remains normal and a notice of 3-5 days remains sufficient to secure supplies of any fuel grade.

Availability is tight in the Scandinavian bunkering locations of Skaw Offshore and Gothenburg, with buyers advised to book at least 10 days ahead for delivery of any fuel grade.

Mediterranean

Demand is looking strong in Gibraltar in the week ahead, with around 54 vessels expected to call at the port for bunkers, according to shipping agent A. Mateos & Sons.

Bunker availability is tight for prompt supplies across the Gibraltar Strait ports. Buyers are advised to enquire with a lead time of around a week for all fuel grades, a trader told ENGINE.

Certain Gibraltar suppliers are running around 12 hours late in delivering bunkers, port agent MH Bland said. That is down from most suppliers behind by more than a day earlier this week after a weather disruption.

In neighbouring Algeciras, some suppliers continue to face around 24-36 hours of delay, MH Bland added.

Rough winds of more than 30 knots are again expected between 23-24 December, which could lead to bunkering getting suspended.

In Las Palmas, fuel deliveries require a long lead time of around a week, a trader said. High swells of around 2 metres will continue to keep operations in Las Palmas limited to the inner anchorage and berth, which require some wait times due to a lack of space, MH Bland said.

In Barcelona, deliveries of all fuel grades require around 5-7 days of lead time, a trader said.

In Portugal’s Lisbon, fuel suppliers require around five days of lead time to provide deliveries of any fuel grade, up from the three days required last week. Bunker fuel supply levels remain normal, a source told ENGINE.

Fuel availability is good off Malta amid soft demand seen in December, with bunkers of any grade available promptly with a short notice of 1-3 days, a trader told ENGINE.

In Greece’s Piraeus, all deliveries usually require around three days of notice, a local supplier has told ENGINE.

Fuel availability is stable in Turkey’s Istanbul, and a lead time of 1-3 days is sufficient for delivery of all bunker fuels, a local supplier informed.

Africa

HSFO availability is very tight in Togo’s Lome, while LSMGO and VLSFO deliveries can be arranged with around 5-7 days of lead time, a trader said.

VLSFO and LSMGO can be delivered in Nigeria’s Lagos, but buyers are advised to book around 5-7 days in advance to arrange deliveries, a local supplier told ENGINE.

LSMGO remains immediately available at the container port in Sao Tome, as well as at the country’s Neves deep-water bunkering terminal in Sao Tome & Principe, a local supplier told ENGINE.

HSFO deliveries remain extremely tight off Namibia’s Walvis Bay, and buyers are advised to book around 7-10 days ahead for VLSFO and LSMGO supplies, a trader said. Rough waves have still limited all deliveries to the anchorage location there.

In Durban and Richards Bay, HSFO can be delivered with around a week’s notice, while VLSFO can be delivered in around 2-4 days, a trader said.

HSFO is extremely tight in Mauritius’ Port Louis, with buyers advised to book close to two weeks in advance, a trader said. VLSFO and LSMGO are comparatively quicker to secure, with each typically requiring around a week of notice, the trader added.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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