Bunkerworld Insights

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Insights

Storage companies seen pivotal for mitigating energy transition risk

Jan 26, 2021

Platts

**Storage firms have skills base to handle hydrogen **Storage an attractive prospect to investors **ESG attracting a range of interested players
Bunker sales in Panama recover in Dec, resilience seen in H2 2020

Jan 25, 2021

Platts Bunkerworld .

**Bunker sales in Panama rise 13.6% in December **Total sales of bunkers in 2020 fall 11.4% on year **Prices on the rise
Bunkerworld Index: Prices waver as lockdowns intensify

Jan 22, 2021

Platts Bunkerworld .

The BW0.5%S Index ended Jan. 21 at $447/mt, down $4/mt on the day, up $1/mt on the week and $41/mt higher than 30 days previously.
TFG Marine to commence bunkering operations at Falmouth from January

Jan 21, 2021

Platts

**Company to start bunkering operations at Falmouth anchorage in Jan **TFG Marine to commence operations with two barges first **Plans underway to expand bunker fleet over time
US sanctions European oil traders, tankers for violating Venezuelan crude oil sanctions

Jan 20, 2021

Platts Bunkerworld .

**Sanctions extend to those working with Mexican network **Ban on Citgo share seizures extended until July **Moves come on Trump's last full day in office
Singapore Marine Fuel crack at 10-month high on strong N Asia LSFO demand

Jan 19, 2021

Platts

Rally in the Asian marine fuel 0.5%S to be short-lived after cold snap retreats.
Asia residual fuel market - Key market indicators this week

Jan 18, 2021

Platts Bunkerworld .

While bunker demand in the Singapore Marine fuel 0.5% market continued to be lacklustre, the market has been buoyed by demand from utility companies in North Asia amid low fuel inventory and high LNG prices, traders said.
OPEC, shale output needs to rise to offset possible year-end supply squeeze: Vitol CEO

Jan 13, 2021

Platts Bunkerworld .

**OPEC+ slows down output rises more than expected **2021 demand increase to hover around 6 mil-6.5 mil b/d **Oil prices rising due to potential supply squeeze
European VLSFO crack hits 10-month high on tight supply

Jan 12, 2021

Platts

**0.5%S marine fuel crack up $1 in past week **Weak supply supporting prices: sources
Asia residual fuel market - Key market indicators this week

Jan 11, 2021

Platts Bunkerworld .

The Singapore Marine fuel 0.5%S market witnessed tepid downstream bunker demand in the first trading week of 2021, although bunker traders have pegged their hopes on a demand recovery for the second half of the month.
Bunkerworld Index: Prices rise as bullish crude factors offset limp demand

Jan 8, 2021

Platts Bunkerworld .

**Traders at Asian hubs hope for higher demand in H2 Jan **European market lacks direction amid mixed buying interest **USGC ports see weak demand, pockets of tightness elsewhere
Saudi Aramco OSP hike at high end of market expectations: traders

Jan 7, 2021

Platts Bunkerworld .

**Aramco raises Feb Asia OSPs by 20-70 cents/b across all grades **Supply cuts, Dubai structure support price hike
Demand for LSFO set to rise in Fujairah after Qatar embargo lifted: traders

Jan 6, 2021

Platts

**Qatar LSFO demand seen returning to emirate **Demand moved to Singapore during embargo
OPEC+ adjourns meeting until Jan. 5 with no deal yet on February oil quotas: delegates

Jan 5, 2021

Bunkerworld

**Russia seeks 500,000 b/d increase, but many opposed **Saudi Prince Abdulaziz says loose pumps may sink market **Novak says vaccines have improved oil market outlook
Asia residual fuel market - Key market indicators this week

Jan 4, 2021

Platts Bunkerworld .

Firmer fundamentals are expected to buoy sentiment in the Asian low sulfur fuel oil market in the first trading week of 2021 amid lower arbitrage supply from the West into Singapore and an uptick in demand from North Asian power utilities.
Bunkerworld Index: Prices rise amid firming crude, pockets of tightness for bunkers

Dec 31, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

**VLSFO in South Korea set for Q1 limits on availability **Durban HSFO tightness likely to linger following explosion **USGC demand may pick up following seasonal slowdown
European VLSFO cracks hit nine-month high despite poor demand

Dec 30, 2020

Bunkerworld

The 0.5%S European marine fuel cracks hit nine-month highs on Dec. 29 despite weak demand through December.
FEATURE: Container shippers hoping for rate relief in Q1 2021 may have to wait

Dec 29, 2020

Platts

Shippers hoping for a break from escalating container rates in the new year may need to endure several more weeks of challenging market conditions before an increase in box supply in Asia balances with demand for available capacity.
AMERICAS BUNKERS: Key market indicators Dec. 28-Jan. 1

Dec 28, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

Retail marine fuel spot markets entered the week of Dec. 28-Jan. 1 following a week of bullish demand, but liquidity may slow down heading into the end of the year as demand remains weak.
Bunkerworld Index: Prices waver amid economic headwinds

Dec 24, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

**North Asia bunker outlook bullish on lower stocks, continuing demand **Uncertain outlook at Rotterdam amid lagging demand and vaccine optimism **USGC, Panama demand likely to wane in line with seasonal expectations
UK fuel demand set to slump over new travel curbs from COVID-19 variant

Dec 22, 2020

Bunkerworld

**London traffic slumps to lowest since early June **Move to slash European air travel demand **Jet fuel demand facing new 'downside risk'
Asia residual fuel - Key market indicators this week

Dec 21, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

Shipowners are actively beginning to procure low sulfur fuel oil for January following a slowdown in December ahead of the festive season, setting the market in recovery mode.
SINGAPORE DATA: Nov bunker fuel sales up nearly 3% on month to 4.26 mil mt

Dec 14, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

**MFO 380 CST sales maintain momentum to hit 995,000 mt **Nov LSFO sales rise 4.5% from Oct
Singapore HSFO prompt time spreads drop to near two-month lows

Dec 9, 2020

Bunkerworld

**180 CST time spread flips to contango **Power sector demand dwindles on lower temperature
FUJAIRAH DATA: Oil products stocks jump 12%, biggest gain since February

Dec 9, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

**Gains across the board for first time since August **Exports have slowed in recent months **Fuel oil demand slows as weather turns colder
S Korea HSFO differential hits 4-month high on tight supply

Dec 9, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

**Tightness expected to when GS Caltex resumes supply Dec. 20 **GS Caltex typically produces 120,000 mt of HSFO/month
FEATURE: Fujairah eyes 4th refinery in 2021 as Oman plans to add storage

Dec 8, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

**Brooge Energy plans 25,000 b/d refinery **Fujairah marine fuel prices tumble this year **Murban futures trading may provide incremental boost
First European 0.5%S marine fuel paper indication seen in Platts MOC

Dec 7, 2020

Bunkerworld

The first 0.5%S marine fuel paper instrument was seen in the Platts Market on Close process Dec. 7, 11 months since the implementation of the International Maritime Organisations sulfur cap which came into play on Jan. 1, 2020.
European VLSFO backwardation hits nine-month high

Dec 4, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

The European very low sulfur fuel oil market has hit nine-month high as product comes to the market ahead of year-end.
FUJAIRAH DATA: Oil product stocks rise 2.3% on big build in heavy distillates

Dec 2, 2020

Bunkerworld

**Heavy distillate inventories rise from 2-year low **Middle distillates fall from last week's record high **Light distillates fall slightly from 10-week high
JAPAN DATA: Nov. 22-28 oil product exports rebound 23% to 2.4 mil barrels

Dec 2, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

**Gasoil exports jump 36.9% **HSFO exports rise 6.6%, LSFO exports up 34.3%
CHINA DATA: Oct fuel oil exports fall 3% on month to 1.22 mil mt

Dec 1, 2020

Bunkerworld

**Exports soar 164.7% on-year **Chinese refineries have significantly expanded capacity
European fuel oil paper volumes in November MOC up 522% on month

Dec 1, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

Hi-lo most commonly traded derivative.
OPEC+ heads into crunch-time negotiations still in search of unity over 2021 oil quotas

Nov 30, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

**Preliminary talks over extending oil cuts to boost market **Russia, Kazakhstan said to seek output rise, UAE undecided **Formal OPEC meeting Nov. 30, non-OPEC joins Dec. 1
Bunkerworld Index: Prices firm on enduring pockets of demand, optimism for crude

Nov 27, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

**USGC prices on the rise despite easing availability **ARA MGO supply concerns appear **Quarantine rule hits Hong Kong buying appetite
NWE gasoline exports to WAF fall in November: Kpler

Nov 26, 2020

Platts

**First decline in gasoline flows for 7 months **Flurry of floating storage fixtures
FUJAIRAH DATA: Oil product stocks fall on 11% slide in heavy distillates

Nov 25, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

Over the week to Nov. 23, middle distillates such as jet fuel and diesel climbed 3% to 6.161 million barrels, a record high.
ANALYSIS: NWE gasoline arbitrage to US weakens after Thanksgiving freight rate rise

Nov 24, 2020

Platts

**US demand falling seasonally and on COVID-19 **NWE gasoline crack near negative territory
Asia residual fuel market - Key market indicators this week

Nov 23, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

**LSFO output shows slight increase **Container liners provide baseline demand
TENDER DATA: Japan's Ministry of Defense seeks 57,400 barrels 0.1% sulfur A-fuel oil for March

Nov 17, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

**A-fuel is a blend of gasoil and fuel oil in a 90:10 ratio **Ministry regularly buys by fuel by tender
Asia residual fuel market - Key market indicators this week

Nov 16, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

**Singapore 0.5%S FO values expected to remain supported **November 3.5%S FO demand so far firmer than October's level
European fuel oil inventories fell in Sept. amid tight supply: IEA

Nov 12, 2020

Platts

**Fuel oil supply hinges on other products **Marine demand remains steady
Fourth propulsion revolution, more R&D to aid greener shipping: ICS

Nov 11, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

**Ammonia, hydrogen and electric batteries hold promise **R&D fund imperative to develop zero carbon fuels **Charterers, financiers coming forward to promote greener shipping
OIL FUTURES: Crude extends losses on pandemic concerns, pares back overnight gains

Nov 10, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

Analysts warn, for all the excitement a vaccine would bring, there are still the practicalities to get out of the way first.
TFG Marine starts bunkering operations in areas along US Gulf Coast

Nov 6, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

**TFG Marine scaling up global footprint **Became accredited bunker supplier in Singapore this year
Singapore bunker sales remain resilient despite strong headwinds

Nov 5, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

"Singapore will continue to grow its marine fuel volumes in the next few months," an industry consultant said.
Neste to buy Bunge's oil, fat processing plant in Rotterdam for Eur258 million

Nov 4, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

"The acquisition of the refinery plant supports our global growth strategy in renewables," Neste CEO Peter Vanacker said.
October CPC loadings up 8% on month to 1.23 mil b/d

Nov 3, 2020

Platts

**Shipments down 12.5% on year **Kazakh shipments up 15% on month
Singapore 380 CST HSFO prompt backwardation widens to 9-month high

Nov 2, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

"The HSFO market is strong. Refiners are cutting their run rates... we still see demand from Pakistan. Demand from the power sector is still strong," a fuel oil trader said.
Singapore LSFO inter-month structure sees volatility amid low production, lacklustre demand

Oct 30, 2020

Bunkerworld

Most Asian refiners continue to maintain lower LSFO production rates, continuing a production plan which began towards the end of Q2.
IMO, S. Korea partner to help less-developed nations meet shipping climate goals

Oct 29, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

**Partners recognize barriers to poorer nations meeting targets **Geopolitics may cause regional approaches
Singapore's MPA launches proposal for additional LNG bunker supplier licenses

Oct 28, 2020

Platts

"MPA seeks to announce the successful award of new LNG bunker supplier licence(s), if any, by February 2021," it added.
Bunker fuel supply tightens in North Asia on weak gasoil margins

Oct 27, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

"Our refinery will maintain its overall operating ratio below 70% in November too, so I think supply will still be tight," a source with a South Korean refiner said.
Tight supply drives Zhoushan marine fuel 0.5%S premium to 6-month high

Oct 26, 2020

Platts

"Everyone don't have oil anymore, and barges are full," a Zhoushan-based supplier said.
Dorian LPG sees dual fuel VLGC upgrade costing 3 three times scrubber retrofitting

Oct 23, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

"Ten of our ships are equipped with scrubbers and we have commitments for another two," Young said.
Americas bunker market adapting well to IMO 2020; COVID-19 still a factor: conference

Oct 22, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

Sellers and suppliers have been "focused on quality" and use certificates of quality during their transactions, Coyne said.
Narrow east-west spread to keep Nov LSFO arbitrage to Singapore low: traders

Oct 21, 2020

Platts

Singapore is expected to receive 1.5 million-2 million mt of low sulfur fuel oil from the West in November,traders said.
Japan's delivered marine fuel 0.5%S bunker price is lowest in Asia

Oct 20, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

"We had expected more orders after China returned from their golden week holidays, but it didn't happen," a trader said.
China's Zhoushan port supplies 3.26 mil mt bonded bunker fuels over Jan-Sep, up 18% on year

Oct 14, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

Association attributed increase in volume to price competitiveness compared to the Asia's key bunkering port of Singapore since late-August.
Asian gasoil crack overtakes gasoline after 4-week flip as supply balance tilts

Oct 13, 2020

Platts

Second consecutive session to see gasoil swap crack higher than gasoline swap crack.
India's Sep fuel oil consumption falls 4% on month on weaker demand

Oct 12, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

Several refiners estimate India bunkering demand has shrunk 15%-20% since onset of coronavirus pandemic in April.
Singapore's residue stocks edge up 1% to 7-week high, bunker demand stable

Oct 9, 2020

Bunkerworld

Stocks were last higher Aug. 19 at 25.485 million barrels, historical data showed.
HSFO bunker barge availability tight in Singapore after typhoons delay vessels

Oct 8, 2020

Platts

The availability of bunkering barges is limited in Singapore amid vessel delays following two recent typhoons in Japan and South Korea, market sources said Oct. 8.
Hafnia's fuel procurement, strategies lead to smooth IMO 2020 transition: executive

Oct 7, 2020

Bunkerworld

"For us, the decision to use LSFO has proven beneficial significantly quicker than we expected," Sorensen said.
INTERVIEW: VPS exec sees bunker fuel quality alerts surging in 2020 as VLSFO use gathers pace

Oct 6, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

"A lot of stability and cold-flow issues with VLSFOs, plus flash point issues with MGO and VLSFO, have been noted," Bee said.
Singapore to issue additional LNG bunker supplier licenses as demand grows

Oct 6, 2020

Platts

Singapore will have an LNG bunker supply capacity of up to 1 million mt per annum from 2021, Chee said.
FueLNG advances LNG bunkering prospects, infrastructure in Singapore

Oct 5, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

FueLNG Bellina is scheduled to be operational by end-2020.
Singapore's LSMGO bunker inquiries spike on narrower gasoil-LSFO spread

Sep 30, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

The spread has since contracted to a five-month low of 84 cents/mt on Sept. 28, but on Sept. 29, it widened to $2.94/mt, Platts data showed.
Monjasa sees near 50% bunker sales growth in Southeast Asia despite COVID-19

Sep 29, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

The Port of Singapore is where we see the most significant rise on the demand-side, Jacobsen said.
Trafigura proposes carbon levy for shipping to hasten decarbonization

Sep 25, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

Trafigura, the independent oil trader and one of the world's largest ship charterers, has proposed that the International Maritime Organization introduce a carbon levy of $250-$300/mt of CO2 equivalent on shipping fuels, to make zero- and low-carbon fuels more economically viable and more competitive.
Fujairah oil product stocks slip to near six-month low

Sep 24, 2020

Platts

"Two suppliers left the Fujairah bunker market, which has reduced the competition," Mali said.
EMEA Middle Distillates: Key market indicators this week

Sep 21, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

European diesel markets looked weaker as traders saw demand falling back as coronavirus cases in Europe rose, while gasoil and jet fuel markets strengthened.
Singapore 0.5% sulfur marine fuel premium to Fujairah hits 3-month low as demand grows

Sep 18, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

The premium of Singapore-delivered to Fujairah-delivered, 0.5% sulfur marine fuel narrowed to $2/mt on Sept. 18, the lowest in three months, S&P Global Platts data showed, on tight barge availability and an uptick in demand in the Middle East.
NWE gasoil, ULSD cracks at multi-year lows point to refinery run cuts

Sep 17, 2020

Platts

Northwest European cracking margins for 0.1% gasoil and ultra low sulfur diesel have hit long-term lows, which has led to expectations that refineries across Europe will start cutting runs, sources said.
Bunker sales in Panama rise in Aug with strong increase in high sulfur segment

Sep 16, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

Bunker sales in Panama climbed for the second consecutive month in August, after a steep fall in June, with high sulfur IFO 380 fuel showing the strongest increase.
ARA gasoil barges at three-month high versus cargoes

Sep 15, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

Gasoil barges in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp hub have risen to a three-month high versus cargoes amid a mix of factors on both the supply and demand sides of the market.
LSGO futures net speculative length slips to four-month low amid largest increase in short positions on record

Sep 14, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

Speculative net long positions in ICE low sulfur gasoil futures fell 42,389 contracts to 21,114 in the week to Sept. 8, a four-month low, according to Intercontinental Exchange data.
ARA fuel oil stocks up 16.7% on week to 1.233 mil mt: Insights Global

Sep 11, 2020

Bunkerworld

Stocks of fuel oil in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp hub, as measured by Insights Global, rose 16.7% to 1.233 million mt in the week to Sept. 9.
Gibraltar Hi-5 bunkers spread at fresh low amid tightness in HSFO

Sep 9, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

VLSFO supply remains ample amid demand destruction caused by COVID-19.
European HSFO values near 2019 prices, bucking expectations

Sep 8, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

The spread between physical prices for 3.5%S FOB Rotterdam barges in 2019 and 2020 reached as close as $4/mt year on year on Sept. 1, assessed at $257/mt, before the spread widened again.
Q2 container volumes fall 13% on year; recovery likely in Q3: CMA CGM

Sep 8, 2020

Platts

Going ahead, the third quarter results should mark a new improvement, the carrier said.
Hong Kong's OOCL withdraws 9 October trans-Pacific sailings

Sep 4, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

These blanked sailings fall on October 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 17, which coincide with China's upcoming Golden Week holiday.
ARA fuel oil stocks down 4% on week to 1.057 mil mt: Insights Global

Sep 4, 2020

Bunkerworld

Stocks of fuel oil in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp hub, as measured by Insights Global, fell 4% to 1.057 million mt in the week Sep 2.
MARINE FUEL 0.5%S: Ample supply weighs on global marine fuel markets in September

Sep 2, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

Traders estimate the volume of LSFO arriving in Singapore in September at 2.5 million-3 million mt.
Heavy distillates stockpiles tumble most in 2020 at Fujairah

Sep 2, 2020

Platts

Fujairah oil product stockpiles dropped to a two-week low on Aug. 31, with heavy distillates such as marine bunkers tumbling 14% week on week, the biggest decline since December 2019.
Listen: Asian HSFO markets endure IMO 2020, coronavirus challenges

Aug 31, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

Light sulfur fuel oil has been the main marine fuel of choice worldwide, but high sulfur fuel oil has held its stead in Asia.
Japanese companies advance plans for world's first marine based carbon capture system

Aug 31, 2020

Platts

Project being conducted with support from the Maritime Bureau of Japan's MLIT.
ONE offers new service connecting ports of Far East Russia with Busan

Aug 27, 2020

Platts

The first sailing on the route is expected to take place from Busan on Sept. 14.
Taiwan ports see 15% increase in marine fuel volumes in August on demand diversion: sources

Aug 27, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

"We have seen an increase in a number of bunker-only call ships that don't typically come to Taiwan," said a source CPC Corp.
MGO-ULSFO bunker spread hits 8-month low in Europe

Aug 25, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

Ultra low sulfur fuel oil remains cheaper than marine gasoil but only marginally as price differentials narrowed to an eight-month low in Europe, S&P Global Platts data showed.
Rotterdam Hi-5 bunker spread hits all-time low

Aug 24, 2020

Bunkerworld

The premium of very low sulfur fuel oil over its high sulfur equivalent at Rotterdam port fell to a record low on Aug. 21, as the latter stays resilient to bearish fundamentals in the global oil complex.
European diesel barge and paper markets hit 2-month low

Aug 21, 2020

Platts

European diesel markets have slipped lower, with traders reporting that demand has stalled at the same time that new arrivals are weighing on the market.
Bunker prices in the Pacific Northwest hike to July levels on strengthened demand, tight avails

Aug 20, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

Prices for bunker fuels in Vancouver and Seattle rose this week to levels last seen in end-July due to an increased demand coupled with tight supply, according to market sources.
Singapore Sept ex-wharf marine fuel term indications increase as oversupply eases

Aug 19, 2020

Platts

Some traders said they were also asking for September-loading MF 0.5%-S term price indications to be based on benchmark FOB Singapore Marine Fuel 0.5% cargo assessment.
VLSFO concerns remain in maritime industry's sights

Aug 19, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

As fuel oil properties are fluctuating, quality and safety problems will continue to be a challenge, BIMCO said.
Fujairah bunker volumes edge up in July after hitting lowest this year

Aug 17, 2020

Bunkerworld

Bunker volume at the Port of Fujairah in July rose 1% on the month after hitting a seven-month low in June, according to a report seen by S&P Global Platts.
IMO 2020 transition smoother than expected: Bunker One

Aug 14, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

"The industry experienced basically no claims in late 2019 and early 2020," Steffen Kortegard said.
INTERVIEW: VLSFO's shorter shelf life causing storage concerns: Veritas Petroleum

Aug 13, 2020

Platts

"On average, the shelf life is around three months for 0.5%S very low sulfur fuel oils," Bee said.
Hong Kong's marine fuel 0.5%S differential hits 2-month low as 14-day quarantine diverts demand

Aug 12, 2020

Platts Bunkerworld .

"Demand has dropped by at least 40% in August," one supplier said.
Europe and Africa residual fuel: Key market indicators this week

Aug 10, 2020

Bunkerworld

The summer lull and muted demand for fuel oil compared with pre-coronavirus pandemic levels meant European market fundamentals remained little changed.