Europe & Africa Fuel Availability Outlook 8 July

Prompt fuel deliveries tight in ARA and Gibraltar Strait ports

A week's notice recommended for all fuels in Barcelona

HSFO availability limited across African ports

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

Northwest Europe

In the ARA bunkering hub, bunker availability is tight for prompt delivery dates, with buyers recommended booking between 5-7 days ahead to get good coverage, a trader said.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks rose 13% in June, compared to May’s monthly average, according to Insights Global data. Inventories have rebounded from May’s levels, which were the lowest in more than a decade.

The region’s independent gasoil inventories - which include diesel and heating oil – have dropped 1% in June, compared to May, and are at their lowest level in around two and a half years.

Early July flows have been much slower, however. The ARA hub has imported only 52,000 b/d of fuel oil in the first two days of July, with all cargoes coming from Tunisia, down from June’s monthly average of 215,000 b/d, according to Vortexa cargo data.

No fuel oil was exported from the ARA in July, Vortexa data showed.

Meanwhile, the region has imported 102,000 b/d of gasoil in July so far, down from 188,000 b/d imported in June, Vortexa data said. July’s shipments came from France (56%) and the United Kingdom (44%).

Availability of all marine fuel types is normal in Germany’s Hamburg, and any fuel grade can be secured with a notice of around five days, a trader told ENGINE.

Off Denmark’s Skaw and in Sweden’s Gothenburg, fuel buyers are advised to book around 10 days ahead for any fuel grade, according to a trader.

Mediterranean

In the Gibraltar Strait ports, fuel availability is tight for prompt supplies, with buyers advised booking around seven days ahead to avoid high premiums, a trader said.

Some suppliers could face a delay of around 12-24 hours in Gibraltar, while most suppliers can supply more readily if space is available for the vessel, port agent MH Bland said. Around 11 vessels are currently awaiting supplies in the port as of Wednesday morning, mostly due to lack of space, MH Bland added.

In neighbouring Algeciras, some suppliers could be delayed by anywhere between 2-18 hours, the port agent added.

In Spain’s Barcelona, around seven days of notice is recommended for any fuel grade, a trader told ENGINE.

In Portugal’s Lisbon, 3-5 days of notice is sufficient for delivery of any fuel grade, a source told ENGINE.

In Las Palmas, fuel availability remains tight for prompt dates, with buyers advised enquiring around 7-10 days ahead for supplies, a trader told ENGINE.

Off Malta, fuel availability is stable for VLSFO and LSMGO, while limited number of suppliers can deliver ULSFO, a trader said. HSFO remains out of stock with most suppliers.

Fuel availability is normal in Greece’s Piraeus, while HSFO barge availability is tight, a source told ENGINE.

HSFO, VLSFO and ULSFO availability is tight in Turkey’s Istanbul, while LSMGO availability is normal, a local supplier told ENGINE.

Africa

HSFO availability is very limited across almost all ports on the African continent, a trader told ENGINE.

In Senegal’s Dakar, VLSFO and LSMGO availability is very tight, a source told ENGINE.

In Togo’s Lome and off Namibia’s Walvis Bay, prompt fuel availability remains tight, but recommended lead times have decreased for VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries to seven days, from 10 days advised last week, a trader told ENGINE.

VLSFO deliveries in Nigeria’s Lagos requires around 5-7 days of notice, a local supplier told ENGINE.

In Angola’s Luanda, a supplier requested lead times of 3-4 days for VLSFO and LSMGO suppliers, compared to 5-6 days of notice advised last week.

Availability is tight for prompt deliveries in South Africa’s Durban and off Algoa Bay, a trader said. Buyers are advised to book stems at least 5-7 days ahead.

Fuel availability remains tight in in Mozambique’s Nacala and Maputo, as suppliers are recommending lead times of around 5-7 days for VLSFO supplies, a trader said.

Bunker fuel availability is very tight in Mauritius’ Port Louis, where buyers are advised to book seven days ahead for VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries, down from a lead time of 10-15 days recommended last week, according to a trader.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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