Europe & Africa Fuel Availability Outlook 4 Feb

Prompt supplies tight at Gibraltar due to weather disruptions

VLSFO and ULSFO availability improves in Istanbul

Deliveries at Port Louis available earliest by mid-February

IMAGE: Aerial view of Gibraltar Harbour with dark storm clouds in the background. Getty Images

Northwest Europe

In the ARA bunkering hub, securing supplies of VLSFO and LSMGO bunkers could prove to be tight for prompt delivery dates, as suppliers are requesting lead times of around 5-7 days for both grades, a trader said. HSFO supplies are available more easily with a notice of around 2-4 days.

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

The region has imported 213,000 b/d of fuel oil in January so far, increasing from the 188,000 b/d imported in December 2025, according to cargo tracker Vortexa. Most supplies this month came from Nigeria (14%), Poland (12%) and Brazil (10%).

The region’s independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil – increased 3% higher in January, compared to December, according to the Insights Global data.

The ARA imported 214,000 b/d of gasoil in January, lower than the 244,000 b/d imported in December, according to Vortexa data. The U.S. (23%), Saudi Arabia (21%) and India (17%) contributed most of the cargoes.

Bunker availability stays normal in Hamburg, with a notice of around 3-5 days advised for all fuel grades, a trader said.

At Gothenburg in Sweden and off Denmark’s Skaw, buyers are recommended lead times of more than 10 days across all fuel grades as the availability remains tight, a trader told ENGINE.

Mediterranean

Inbound traffic has been suspended in Gibraltar again after briefly resuming over the weekend. Congestion is mounting once again with around 17 vessels waiting as of Wednesday morning, but still low compared to queues of around 40 vessels seen last week, port agent MH Bland said.

All port operations are suspended in Algeciras and Ceuta as well, according to the port agent.

Due to this disruption, buyers are recommended long lead times to get deliveries of any fuel grade in the Gibraltar Strait, a trader said.

Some suppliers in Algeciras can deliver earliest by 17 February. In Ceuta, ex-pipe deliveries can be done with a five-day notice, while barge deliveries can be carried out earliest by around 14 February, the trader added.

Weather is expected to remain rough in the strait until at least 11 February with winds higher than 40 knots and waves around 2 metres high forecast during this period.

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

In Las Palmas, bunker supply remains tight with a lead time of around 10 days required for all fuel types, a trader told ENGINE.

Swells of above 2 metres are forecast in the Canary Islands bunkering hub until 8 February, which may suspend bunker operations at the outer anchorage areas.

In Portugal’s Lisbon, weather is expected to gradually improve by 9 February and around 3-5 days of lead time is recommended for delivery of all fuel grades, a source told ENGINE.

There is very less demand seen off Malta, and the disruptions caused to its bunkering terminals due to Storm Harry are still affecting fuel availability, a trader confirmed.

VLSFO is still seeing muted demand in Greece’s Piraeus, a source told ENGINE.

At the Turkish port of Istanbul, availability of VLSFO, ULSFO and LSMGO is back to normal, compared to last week, when VLSFO and ULSFO supplies were extremely tight, a local supplier said.

Africa

Fuel availability is good for VLSFO and LSMGO in the Togolese port of Lome, while it remains tight off Namibia’s Walvis Bay, a trader told ENGINE.

In South Africa’s Durban, availability is normal for VLSFO and HSFO, with 2-4 days of notice enough to get deliveries of both grades, a trader said.

In Richards Bay, prompt supplies are tight with around seven days of lead time required for delivery of all grades, the trader added.

At Port Louis in Mauritius, fuel availability is tight for all grades with deliveries possible by around mid-February, a trader said.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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