Europe & Africa Fuel Availability Outlook 21 Jan

Mediterranean ports face rough weather

Istanbul sees tight VLSFO and ULSFO availability

VLSFO and LSMGO supplies normal in Luanda

IMAGE: Aerial view of container port and ship in Istanbul Getty Images

Northwest Europe

In the ARA bunkering hub, buyers are recommending around 6-7 days of lead time for VLSFO deliveries, and 4-5 days for LSMGO bunkers, a trader said. HSFO supplies are available more promptly with a shorter notice of around 2-4 days, the trader added.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have slipped by 2% in January so far, according to Insights Global data.

The region has imported 227,000 b/d of fuel oil in January so far, up from the 188,000 b/d imported in December 2025, according to cargo tracker Vortexa.

Cargos have arrived from Brazil (20%), Greece and Lithuania (15%).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil – have inched 1% higher so far this month compared to December, according to the Insights Global data.

The ARA has imported 298,000 b/d of gasoil in January, an increase from the 244,000 b/d imported in December, according to Vortexa data. Most of the shipments have arrived from India (42%), Qatar (14%) and the U.S. (12%).

Bunker supplies are easily available in Germany’s Hamburg with a notice of around 3-5 days, a trader said.

In Sweden’s Gothenburg and off Denmark’s Skaw, buyers are advised to book stems with lead times of more than 10 days across all fuel grades, a trader told ENGINE.

Mediterranean

Prompt bunker supply is tight at the Gibraltar Strait ports, and buyers are advised to book 5-7 days in advance to get more coverage from suppliers, a trader said.

Winds of more than 25 knots and waves of more than 1.5 metres height have led to suspension of all inbound traffic in Gibraltar, a port agent said. Weather is forecast to be rough until at least 28 January.

In Barcelona, suppliers require around 5-7 days’ notice to arrange supplies of any fuel grade, a trader said.

In Las Palmas, both LSMGO and VLSFO supplies are promptly available, while HSFO supplies may require a longer lead of between 7-10 days, a trader told ENGINE.

Swells of above 2 metres and as high as 4 metres are forecast at the Spanish port intermittently between 21 January – 5 February. Supplies are currently being carried out in the inner anchorage and at the berth, port agent MH Bland said.

Malta has faced rough weather from the beginning of the week, with winds above 35 knots and waves exceeding 3 metres, forcing the cancellation of all offshore bunkering operations. While conditions are expected to improve in the second half of the week, backlogs caused due to the weather disruption is expected to cause bunker delays.

Weather is forecast to deteriorate again from 26 January and remain intermittently rough through 3 February.

In Greece’s Piraeus, buyers are recommended to book supplies of any fuel grade with at least a week’s notice, a trader said.

In Istanbul, VLSFO and ULSFO availability has become very tight, while LSMGO is more readily available, a local supplier told ENGINE.

Africa

HSFO availability is very tight in Togo’s Lome and off Namibia’s Walvis Bay, while LSMGO and VLSFO deliveries can be arranged with lead times of around 5-7 days at both locations, a trader said.

In the Angolan port of Luanda, fuel availability is normal for VLSFO and HSFO supplies, a local supplier said.

In Nigeria's Lagos, one supplier said that VLSFO deliveries could be arranged within five days.

HSFO and VLSFO are readily available in Durban and Richards Bay, with lead times of 2-4 days.

HSFO and VLSFO availability is very tight in Mauritius’ Port Louis, while LSMGO can be supplied within 5-7 days, a trader told ENGINE.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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