Europe & Africa Market Update 23 Mar

Most bunker benchmarks in European and African ports have increased, while Gibraltar is seeing severe congestion.

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

Changes on the day, from Friday, to 09.00 GMT today:

• VLSFO prices up in Durban ($49/mt) and Rotterdam ($27/mt)
• LSMGO prices up in Gibraltar ($137/mt) and Rotterdam ($113/mt)
• B30-VLSFO prices up in Rotterdam ($63/mt) and Gibraltar ($36/mt)

LSMGO prices have gained significantly in both Rotterdam and Gibraltar over the weekend.

Bunkering LSMGO in Gibraltar can cost $190/mt more than in Rotterdam, compared to a $166/mt premium seen on Friday.

Rotterdam’s B30-VLSFO price has gained more steeply compared to Gibraltar. Consequently, Gibraltar’s price premium over Rotterdam’s blend has halved over the weekend.

Fuel availability of all fuel grades remains tight in Gibraltar for prompt delivery dates, a trader said.

Gibraltar’s operations have resumed after a weather-related disruption last week. But ships calling for bunkers are seeing long queues, with around 23 vessels currently awaiting bunkers, MH Bland said.

Most suppliers are running around 12 hours behind schedule as they work through bunkering backlogs, the port agent added.

Inbound traffic in neighbouring Algeciras remains suspended, while the Port of Ceuta is fully operational, MH Bland said.

Rough winds and high swells are again forecast to resume in the area from 24 March to 31 March, which may lead to more disruptions at the Gibraltar Strait ports.

Brent

The front-month ICE Brent contract has gained by $4.36/bbl on the day from Friday, to trade at $113.33/bbl at 09.00 GMT.

Upward pressure:

Brent’s price has gained nearly $5/bbl at the start of this week as tensions in the Middle East have amplified.

Over the weekend, US President Donald Trump issued a warning that Washington would “obliterate” Tehran’s power plants within 48 hours, if its forces continued to block vessel movement through the Strait of Hormuz.

The deadline is set to expire today evening in Washington. Market analysts expect a sharp volatility in Brent’s price over this period.

“US officials said the White House is sending hundreds of Marines to the Middle East as it weighs up a plan to seize Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub,” ANZ Bank’s senior commodity strategist Daniel Hynes said.

Meanwhile, Israel's health ministry said about 180 people were injured in Iranian missile strikes on two southern Israeli towns close to a nuclear facility, the BBC reported.

Around 116 people were injured in Arad and 64 in Dimona, after ballistic missiles hit the region on Saturday.

Downward pressure:

Brent’s price gains were partly held back by expectations of some supply relief in the market.

The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) executive director Fatih Birol said the energy agency is prepared to release more crude stockpiles “if necessary,” Reuters reported.

Earlier this month, the IEA agreed to release 400 million bbls of crude oil from strategic reserves, as the conflict in Iran continues to destabilise oil flows through the Persian Gulf.

In another news, the total number of rigs drilling for crude oil in the US rose by two to 414 units last week, according to Baker Hughes.

The US oil rig count is seen as an indicator of future oil production. It reflects how much oil drilling activity is happening or expected to happen in the shale sector.

By Nachiket Tekawade & Aparupa Mazumder

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