Global Fuel Availability Outlook 31 Dec
HSFO supply remains tight in Singapore
Bunker availability tight in Gibraltar
VLSFO and LSMGO supply improves in Santos
IMAGE: Aerial view of Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province. Getty Images
East of Suez
Despite sluggish bunker demand, suppliers in Singapore are recommending lead times of about 4–6 days for VLSFO. LSMGO availability remains comfortable, with shorter lead times of around three days advised, while HSFO supply is tight and requires much longer advance notice of 9–10 days.
In Port Klang, VLSFO and LSMGO remain readily available, especially for smaller prompt stems, while HSFO availability continues to be limited.
In Zhoushan, suppliers are advising lead times of 4–7 days for small parcels across all grades. Larger stems above 1,500 mt need slightly longer windows of 6–10 days. By comparison, last week VLSFO and LSMGO required 4–6 days, while HSFO needed 5–7 days.
Across Taiwan, suppliers in Keelung and Hualien can typically deliver VLSFO and LSMGO within two days, unchanged from last week. Taichung and Kaohsiung require slightly longer lead times of around three days. Notably, 1 January 2026 is a holiday in Taiwan, meaning no bunker orders can be placed, though deliveries will proceed as usual, according to state-owned CPC Corporation.
Bunker availability is good across all grades in South Korea, where suppliers are recommending lead times of 4–6 days. However, winter weather could cause disruptions: Busan, Ulsan and Daesan may face disruptions from 31 December to 5 January, while bunker operations at Yeosu could be affected from 1–5 January.
In Japan, availability of all grades is extremely tight because of low inventories and widespread barge congestion. Affected ports include Tokyo, Chiba, Kawasaki, Yokohama, Osaka, Kobe, Nagoya, Yokkaichi, Mizushima and Tokuyama, a trader said.
For deliveries in early January, suppliers are expected to offer stems in Tokyo Bay around 9–10 January, while congestion at other ports is likely to persist until mid-January.
Rough weather is forecast in Colombo from 4–5 January, which could disrupt bunker deliveries.
In Fujairah, prompt bunker supply remains tight across all grades, with several suppliers facing constrained delivery schedules. Similar conditions persist in the nearby Khor Fakkan port. Adverse weather conditions could further impact operations at both ports.
Bunker supply in Oman’s ports - Sohar, Salalah, Muscat and Duqm - remains stable, with suppliers consistently offering prompt LSMGO deliveries. However, adverse weather is forecast in Sohar and Salalah on Wednesday, which could affect operations.
Europe and Africa
Fuel availability in the ARA hub remains tight for prompt deliveries, with buyers advised to enquire around 5-7 days in advance for all fuel grades to secure competitive offers from a wider range of suppliers, a trader told ENGINE.
From 1 January 2026, suppliers in Dutch ports will be covered under the country’s new domestic regulations that implement EU’s RED III rules. This is expected to increase bunker costs as suppliers pass on related compliance expenses.
Separately, the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp will require all bunker deliveries to be made by certified mass flow meter (MFM)-equipped barges from 1 January 2026.
Prompt bunker deliveries are also tight in the Gibraltar Strait, where a minimum lead time of around one week is recommended, the trader added.
Congestion in Gibraltar has eased slightly, with around nine vessels waiting for bunkers at the port on Wednesday morning, down from 15 vessels on Tuesday. Suppliers are working to clear the backlog, but most are running 10-48 hours behind schedule, port agent MH Bland said.
Around 35 vessels are expected to call at Gibraltar for bunkers between 31 December- 5 January, according to shipping agent A Mateos & Sons.
Off Malta, some suppliers can deliver LSMGO at the earliest by 5–6 January, while VLSFO supply remains tight and only one supplier is currently offering HSFO, a trader told ENGINE. ULSFO supply remains normal, the trader added.
Suppliers in Durban are recommending lead times of seven days for HSFO deliveries, while VLSFO can be supplied with 2-4 days, a trader said.
Americas
Bunker fuel demand in Houston remains steady even as adverse weather continues to impact operations in the US Gulf Coast. Lead times for all three grades are currently between 3–7 days.
With the region now in its fog season, delays and intermittent channel closures caused by reduced visibility are expected in the months ahead until March.
From 1 January, a safety guideline change will permit nighttime transits for containerships, LPG carriers and widebody tankers at the port, a ship agent said.
A gale warning is currently in effect in New York, with high wind gusts occasionally reaching up to 40 knots. Demand for HSFO and VLSFO is normal in the port, with recommended lead times between 5-7 days this week. For LSMGO deliveries, most suppliers are recommending lead times of roughly three days.
In Brazil, VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains normal in Santos, with lead times of around 5–8 days.
Across Rio de Janeiro both grades are tight and need over a week of lead time for delivery.
VLSFO and LSMGO grades are available in Rio Grande, Belém and Vila do Conde, with deliveries possible with recommended lead times of 4–5 days.
At OPL Sepetiba, VLSFO and LSMGO supplies have been replenished, and the earliest delivery date is 7 January, according to sources.
In Salvador, the earliest supply for both grades is between 2–4 January.
In Paranaguá, VLSFO can be supplied within 4–5 days, while LSMGO remains unavailable.
Meanwhile, Itaqui has good availability of both VLSFO and LSMGO, with deliveries possible from 6-7 January.
In Zona Común, weather conditions continue to support bunker operations. But over the weekend, deliveries could be suspended by high wind gusts at the anchorage.
VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries require lead times of around 5–8 days in Zona Común.
By Tuhin Roy, Nachiket Tekawade and Gautamee Hazarika
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