Europe & Africa Fuel Availability Outlook 29 Apr

Prompt fuel supply tight in the Gibraltar Strait

VLSFO availability tight off Malta amid loading delays

Longer lead times seen in West African ports

IMAGE: Aerial view of the Bay of Gibraltar. Getty Images

Northwest Europe

Bunker availability is stable in the ARA hub, a trader said. Buyers looking to bunker in the European hub are advised to enquire around 4-6 days ahead to get competitive offers from a wide selection of suppliers, a trader said.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have dropped by 14% in April so far, according to Insights Global data.

The ARA hub has imported 276,000 b/d of fuel oil in April thus far, rising from March’s 207,000 b/d, according to data from cargo tracker Vortexa. Most cargoes arrived from Denmark (16%), Mexico (12%) and Venezuela (11%).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil – have decreased by 8% this month, compared to March.

The ARA hub has imported 172,000 b/d of gasoil in April so far, down considerably from 291,000 b/d in March, Vortexa data showed. Kuwait (20%), Saudi Arabia and the U.S. (17%), and Qatar (13%) were the top suppliers this month. 

In Germany’s Hamburg, fuel supply remains stable, and a lead time of five days remains sufficient to get deliveries of any grade, a trader told ENGINE.

Off Denmark’s Skaw and in Sweden’s Gothenburg, suppliers require a lead time of around 10 days to arrange deliveries of any fuel grade, a trader said.

Mediterranean

Prompt availability is tight for all fuel grades at the Gibraltar Strait ports, and suppliers need around 5-10 days of lead time to arrange deliveries, according to a trader.

The port of Gibraltar is seeing slight congestion, with around 14 vessels waiting in the port for bunkers, mainly due to unavailability of barges, port agent MH Bland said.

Some suppliers are running around 12-24 hours behind schedule on deliveries, MH Bland said. Suppliers in neighbouring Algeciras are running anywhere between 6-24 hours late, the port agent added.

Prompt fuel availability in Las Palmas is tight, with lead times of between 7-10 days recommended to get good coverage from suppliers, a trader told ENGINE.

In Lisbon, availability of all fuel grades is normal, and a notice of around 3-5 days is sufficient to secure supplies, a source told ENGINE.

Bunker demand remains low off Malta, a trader said. VLSFO availability is tight for some fuel suppliers, while LSMGO supply remains stable. Buyers are recommended a higher lead time of around 10-15 days due to loading delays, the trader added.

In Greece’s Piraeus, VLSFO availability remains limited, a trader said.

Fuel availability and demand remains stable in Türkiye's Istanbul, a local supplier told ENGINE. Deliveries of all fuel grades can be carried out promptly, a trader added.

In the Black Sea, LSMGO supplies in the Romanian ports of Constantza, Midia and Mangalia are tight at the moment, and one supplier told ENGINE said it is out of stock and awaiting cargoes.

Africa

In the Senegalese port of Dakar, a supplier said it can deliver VLSFO, but a lead time of around two weeks is requested.

Bunker demand remains strong in Togo’s Lome and off Walvis Bay in Namibia, a trader said. Buyers are now recommended a higher lead time around 10 days, compared to lead times of around 5-7 days advised last week, a trader said.  

In Nigeria’s Lagos, around 5-7 days of lead time is requested for VLSFO bunker deliveries, a local supplier said.

In Angola’s Luanda, a supplier said they are expecting replenishments of VLSFO by mid-May, while LSMGO availability remains stable with around 3-4 days of notice sufficient.

In South Africa’s Durban, bunker availability is normal, but a lead time of 5-7 days is recommended for HSFO and VLSFO deliveries, a trader said. The port has faced weather related disruptions early in the week.

In Mauritius’ Port Louis, a lead time of at least 10 days is recommended to get deliveries of any fuel grade, according to a trader.

In the Mozambican port of Nacala and Maputo, VLSFO supplies need a notice of around 5-7 days, a trader said.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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