Europe & Africa Fuel Availability Outlook 21 Oct

Prompt fuel availability is tight in the ARA

Rough weather suspends deliveries off Malta

High swells suspend bunkering in Las Palmas’ outer anchorages

IMAGE: Ships docked in the Port of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain. Getty Images

Northwest Europe

Prompt supply is tight in the ARA ports, a trader said, and buyers should allow lead times of 5-7 days to get competitive offers from a wide selection of suppliers, a trader told ENGINE.

Verde Marine Energy said this week that it has added more barges to Flushing, Ghent and Ternuezen.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have averaged 7% higher in October so far, compared to September’s monthly average, according to Insights Global data.

The region’s independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil - have gained 6% in October so far, compared to September, according to the Insights Global data.

Fuel availability is stable in Hamburg, with suppliers asking for five days of lead time, a trader told ENGINE.

Bunker buyers are advised longer lead times of 10 days for supplies off Denmark’s Skaw and in Sweden’s Gothenburg, a trader said.

Mediterranean

Prompt bunker fuel availability is tight at the Gibraltar Strait ports, with buyers recommended lead times of 7-10 days to get good coverage from suppliers, a trader told ENGINE.

Some suppliers in Gibraltar are delayed by 12-16 hours while some other suppliers are running 4-6 hours late, port agent MH Bland said. In Algeciras, some suppliers are running 24-32 hours late on deliveries, the port agent added.

Suppliers need around a week of notice for deliveries in the Spanish port of Barcelona.

Fuel availability is tight in Las Palmas, with buyers advised lead times of 7-8 days to get deliveries, a trader said.

Rough seas, with swells higher than 1.5 metres, have caused a suspension in bunkering activities in the outer anchorage of Las Palmas, port agent MH Bland said. Operations can still be carried out in the inner anchorage or alongside berth.

Due to lack of space, only one vessel can drop anchor in the inner anchorage at a time. Ships arriving first at the outer anchorage will be allowed to proceed first to the berth.

Rough weather off Malta has suspended all bunkering operations there, MH Bland said. Deliveries are possible with a lead time of 4-5 days, a trader told ENGINE.

In Istanbul, fuel availability is normal and deliveries are available with a notice of 1-4 days, a local supplier told ENGINE.

Africa

Bunker availability is tight in Togo’s Lome, and buyers are recommended lead times of 5-7 days for VLSFO and LSMGO supplies, a trader told ENGINE. FLEX Commodities said it has added a barge to supply VLSFO and LSMGO at the Lome Anchorage.

VLSFO availability is tight in Nigeria’s Lagos Anchorage, and buyers are recommended lead times of between 10-12 days, a local supplier told ENGINE.

In Luanda, VLSFO is out of stock with at least one supplier. The supplier said it can deliver LSMGO within 3-4 days.

Fuel supplies off Namibia’s Walvis Bay are tight for prompt dates. Buyers are advised 5-7 days of lead time for VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries, a trader told ENGINE.

Rough seas are expected for the next few weeks, with swells higher than 2 metres forecast intermittently between 21 October-5 November, which may disrupt offshore supply operations and limit all bunkering activities to within port limits.

Fuel availability is tight in South African ports of Durban and Cape Town. Buyers are recommended 10-15 days of notice to secure deliveries, a trader told ENGINE.

Fuel availability is very tight in Port Louis. Buyers are recommended to book 10-14 days in advance to secure supplies, a trader said.

Bunker fuel availability is tight for prompt supplies in the Mozambican ports of Nacala and Maputo, with buyers recommended lead times of 5-7 days for most supplies, a trader told ENGINE.

By Nachiket Tekawade

Please get in touch with comments or additional information to news@engine.online