Fuel Switch Snapshot: LNG and LBM drop against conventional fuels in major ports

LBM discounts to VLSFO and LSMGO widen in Rotterdam

Singapore's LNG diesel SS discount to LSMGO tops $1,000/mt

B100-LBM spread narrows sharply for Otto MS engines

Sharp drops in LNG and liquefied biomethane (LBM) bunker prices have improved the economics of the methane-based alternatives against conventional fuels for dual-fuel vessels bunkering in Rotterdam and Singapore.

In Rotterdam, LNG’s premium over VLSFO has fallen by $200/mt to $32/mt when bunkered by vessels with Otto medium speed (Otto MS) engines. For vessels with diesel slow speed (diesel SS) engines, LNG has shifted to a $167/mt discount to VLSFO, coming from a $31/mt premium a week ago.

LNG’s discounts to LSMGO in Rotterdam have widened by $122–123/mt to $272–471/mt over the past week.

LBM has made a bigger fall than conventional fuels in Rotterdam. Its discounts to LSMGO have expanded by $111–112/mt to a hefty $662–867/mt, while discounts to VLSFO have widened by $187–189/mt to $358–563/mt, depending on the gas engine type.

In Singapore, LNG’s discounts to VLSFO have widened by $181–182/mt to $334-434/mt. Its discounts to LSMGO have expanded by $51–52/mt to $946–1,045/mt.

Rotterdam’s B100 has slipped back to discounts against pure HSFO and VLSFO after briefly being at premiums a week ago.

Rotterdam's B100 premium over LBM has narrowed by $150/mt to $34/mt for dual-fuel vessels with Otto MS engines.

For vessels with low-methane-slip diesel SS engines, LBM is still cheaper than B100, although the discount has narrowed by $151/mt to $239/mt.

Liquid fuels

Rotterdam’s HSFO and VLSFO prices have gained $36–68/mt, while its LSMGO price has edged $9/mt lower over the past week.

The port’s B100 price has dropped $271/mt lower, despite a $20/mtCO2e decline in Dutch ZRE-A tickets.B100 is now priced at $253-324/mt discounts to HSFO and VLSFO in Rotterdam, flipping from $14-53/mt premiums a week ago.

Singapore’s HSFO price has taken a $201/mt knock over the past week while its LSMGO price has dropped by a smaller $86/mt. VLSFO, meanwhile, has risen by $45/mt.

Singapore’s B100 price has declined by $35/mt over the past week, and its premium over pure VLSFO has narrowed by $79/mt to $120/mt.

Liquid gases

Rotterdam’s LNG bunker prices have declined $131-132/mt over the past week, largely due to a 15% decline in the front-month Dutch TTF Natural Gas contract. Its LBM prices have dropped by $120-121/mt.

The TTF price has fallen over subsiding concerns of a prolonged Middle East war and increased renewable energy generation in Europe.

LNG bunkering activity in Rotterdam declined in February. In the Netherlands, activity fell to 36 bunker operations in February, down from 43 in January. The drop was largely driven by container ships, with lower volumes from CMA CGM, Mediterranean Shipping Company and Hapag-Lloyd, according to Kpler.

LNG’s premium over LBM in Rotterdam has narrowed for a second straight week, this time by a slight $11/mt to $390-396/mt, depending on the engine type.

Singapore’s LNG bunker prices have dropped $136-137/mt over the past week. Weak spot gas demand in Asia and high stockpiles have added some downward pressure on the prices.

Singapore's LNG bunker sales rebounded by 39% in February, after declining for three consecutive months.

Daily average LNG sales increased by about 700 mt/day to 2,100 mt/day in February. For the January-February period, total LNG sales reached nearly 102,000 mt, up from 63,000 mt during the same period last year.

By Konica Bhatt

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