North America

Bunker demand has remained low in Houston this week. Availability of all fuel grades has been normal for prompt supply in Houston. Several suppliers can deliver stems with lead times of 5-7 days. HSFO needs a longer lead time of more than seven days.

Bunker demand has picked up again at the New Orleans Outer Anchorage (NOLA) this week. This uptick is due to VLSFO and LSMGO prices in NOLA dropping below those in Houston. Bunker fuel availability is good in NOLA, with several suppliers able to offer both fuel grades for prompt delivery dates.

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO has remained good for prompt dates in Bolivar Roads. Deliveries there, however, are still subject to weather conditions and delivery schedules, a source says.

Bunkering was proceeding normally at the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) as of Thursday morning. Most suppliers are able to deliver VLSFO and LSMGO stems within 3-5 days of lead time.

Demand has also picked up for all fuel grades in GOLA this week.

Demand has been low in the West Coast ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles this week. Availability of all grades is normal, with lead times of around 5-7 days.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in the East Coast port of New York. Overall, bunker demand has been slow in New York so far this week.

Caribbean and Latin America

Bunker fuel demand has been good in Panama’s Balboa and Cristobal. Product availability is also good in both locations, and several suppliers are able to supply all fuel grades with a lead time of 5-7 days.

As of now, the Panama Canal Authority allows 32 daily vessel transits, which will increase to 33 starting from 11 July and further to 35 transits from 22 July.

Availability of LSMGO and VLSFO in Argentina’s Zona Comun anchorage is very good for prompt dates. Three refineries in the region—YPF in La Plata, Raizen closer to Buenos Aires, and Axion in Campana—have surplus VLSFO in storage, a source says.

However, limited barge availability and adverse weather conditions have caused bunkering delays in Zona Comun.

Zona Comun and Santos’ VLSFO price gaps have narrowed due to the surplus volumes of VLSFO in storage. Some market participants in Argentina consider Santos’ bunker prices as a benchmark for East Coast South America’s (ECSA) bunker prices, a source claimed. However, bulk carriers departing from Argentina rarely bunker in Santos because they sail fully loaded on routes that bypass the Brazilian port, the source added.

Bunker fuel demand surged in the Brazilian ports of Santos, Salvador, and Rio de Janeiro on Monday, but tapered off later in the week. VLSFO availability remains robust across these ports, according to most suppliers.

Source: ENGINE