Bunkerworld Insights

News
Insights

IMO 2020 COUNTDOWN: WILL REFINERIES MEET LOW SULFUR BUNKER FUEL DEMAND?

Feb 8, 2018

Jason Silber

With 23 months to go, it is still uncertain whether refineries will be able to meet demand for low sulfur bunker fuel. Jason Silber, global head of Ocean Intelligence -- part of S&P Global Platts -- sought out Janet McGurty, S&P Global Platts senior oil writer and resident refinery guru, for her insight on what shippers can expect come January 1, 2020, when the International Maritime Organization’s global sulfur cap comes into effect
Singapore's changing bunker fuel industry dynamics

Nov 7, 2017

Surabhi Sahu

Singapore’s bunker industry dynamics are changing due to increased competition and the enforcement of mass flow meters, a move which has no doubt increased transparency but has also escalated costs. Surabhi Sahu, bunker fuels editor, examines how these factors are affecting market players and the industry as a whole.
Weakness in Clean LR Tanker Market Set to Continue

Oct 24, 2016

Alex Younevitch and Shubhlakshmi Shukla

Long Range tanker freight rates in the Atlantic are at historical lows, putting heavy pressure on shipowners' earnings. Is this just a temporary issue or is there even more trouble ahead? In this video, managing editor for EMEA shipping Alex Younevitch and associate editor Shubhlakshmi Shukla discuss the main forces behind the sorry state of the LR tanker market, including the closed naphtha arbitrage to the Far East, declining gasoline imports to West Africa and the swelling fleet orderbook.
Regulation Dictating Rebalancing in Dry Bulk Market

Oct 20, 2016

Pradeep Rajan and Shriram Sivaramakrishnan

Healthy demand has been giving the dry bulk sector a boost, but stringent regulations are the ones supporting market sentiment. One such regulation is the Ballast Water Management convention, which takes effect from September 8, 2017.
Upcoming IMO Decision on Global Sulfur Cap Could Boost Scrubbers Demand

Oct 5, 2016

Ned Molloy and Tom Washington

There are no longer doubts about the technical feasibility of scrubbers, but the low oil price environment has made the financial case for investing in scrubbers less obvious. However with the upcoming IMO decision later in October in London, on whether to implement a global sulfur cap of 0.50% on marine fuels in 2020, demand for scrubbers could receive an huge boost.
How Is Russia's Refinery Modernization Plan Impacting Heavy Products Markets?

Sep 21, 2016

Ned Molloy

This year Russian refinery upgrades have well and truly kicked in, after some delays, leading to a significant fall in fuel oil exports to Europe, and a shift towards higher-sulfur Vacuum Gasoil.
Dry Spell Coming Off for Dry Bulk Markets

Sep 9, 2016

Pradeep Rajan, Avantika Ramesh, and Andrew Khaw

There are visible signs of stability returning to the dry bulk market segment. Market observers say the dry bulk sector has inched up above the bottom levels seen in the recent times. S&P Global Platts editors Pradeep Rajan, Avantika Ramesh, and Andrew Khaw look at the various classes of dry bulk ships, how they have performed so far this year, and the market expectations for the rest of 2016.
How Are Tighter Emissions Regulations Impacting the Global Cruise Liner Industry?

Sep 5, 2016

Ned Molloy

Sweeping changes to marine fuel regulation are affecting cruise liners more than most segments of the global shipping industry. Ned Molloy, managing editor, fuel oil at S&P Global Platts, speaks to Bud Darr, senior vice president of technical and regulatory affairs at Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), on ECA zones, cost saving, oil price risk, and the evidence going into the IMO's upcoming decision in October on when to implement a global sulfur cap of 0.5%.
Venezuela’s light crude habit soaks up US exports

Aug 18, 2016

Meghan Gordon

Venezuela’s thirst for light crude imports could play an interesting role in crimping as much as 300,000 b/d of its own crude exports. That would amount to a whopping 14% of Venezuela’s 2.12 million b/d production as of July.
Jones Act Shippers Search for Demand in US Refined Oil Product Industry

Aug 16, 2016

Joshua Mann

Sliding demand for Jones Act crude shipping has operators targeting the refined products market, but a glut of products is suppressing appetite for the tankers.
Surging OPEC Crude Production, Talk of a Freeze, and the Meeting in Algiers

Aug 11, 2016

Herman Wang

Venezuela’s thirst for light crude imports could play an interesting role in crimping as much as 300,000 b/d of its own crude exports. That would amount to a whopping 14% of Venezuela’s 2.12 million b/d production as of July.
SNAPSHOT VIDEO: India a bright spot in dark and gloomy dry bulk market

Jun 21, 2016

Shriram Shivaramakrishnan

If China got the dry bulk market out of the doldrums in 2005, is it India’s turn this time around?
COMMODITY PULSE VIDEO: Dry bulk tonnage at a crossroads: is it heading down the oversupply path again?

Jun 20, 2016

Alex Younevitch

Our shipping editorial team explores the latest trends in the dry bulk S&P and ship recycling markets, giving a forward outlook for the global dry bulk fleet.
SNAPSHOT VIDEO: Glass Half Full: The Bearish Dry Bulk Market May Yet Offer Opportunities

May 26, 2016

Alex Younevitch

The dry bulk freight market is suffering its worst period in decades. However, even this bearish environment can bring some interesting opportunities for the right shipping players.
SNAPSHOT VIDEO: Americas Aframax rates near year-low after brief upheaval in shipping market

May 19, 2016

John Delapp

The Aframax market in the Americas was on a veritable roller coaster ride at the end of April, and various factors may prompt another price reversal in the near future.
Predicting global ballast water treatment markets

Mar 18, 2016

Dennis King

The basic problem in BMWS markets stems from the fact that both IMO and USA regulations are ambitious attempts at what economists call 'technology forcing regulations.'
Reducing uncertainty in ballast water management markets

Mar 14, 2016

Dennis King

Which poses worse threats to the future of BWMS markets: the restrictive US approach or the IMO's BWMS testing protocols?
The year that defied predictions

Feb 26, 2016

Unni Einemo

Expect the unexpected should be the mantra for 2016 if last year's market behavior is anything to go by.
IMO fuel use data and EU MRV: why bunker suppliers won't escape the impact

Feb 19, 2016

Anne-Marie Warris

Suppliers may not be directly regulated but they face demands to help ships demonstrate compliance.
The Evolution of ISO 8217 standard from 2005 to 2016 Draft

Feb 8, 2016

Dr. Ram Vis

Substantial changes have been made in the text of the standard.
Is it really safer to bypass a trader and deal direct with a physical supplier?

Jan 27, 2016

Carsten Ladekjaer

Buyers may be seeking a safe haven which is in fact no safer than the one they are trying to steer away from.
Res Cogitans: Cartesian dualism and what it means for the bunker industry?

Nov 9, 2015

Adrian Tolson

A decision from the London High Courts has seen the trader's role rocked to its core.
Low prices, high risk

Nov 4, 2015

Nick Jameson

Ship operators with poor payment records may be accessing unduly generous volumes of product.
Simply improving compliance

Oct 29, 2015

Robin Meech

An elegant approach to enforcing the global sulphur cap.
Decoding the Black Box: Will technology deliver?

Oct 12, 2015

Steve Leonard

OW's demise should have led to a paradigm shift in the industry as every link in the chain assessed its weak points, but it was not to be.
The CO2 budget is shrinking fast

Sep 28, 2015

Tristan Smith

Shipping needs to act now to avoiding climate-induced turbulence later.
Shipping and climate change

Sep 28, 2015

Koji Sekimizu

The need for further progress is clearly recognized at IMO.
Game Changer

Sep 24, 2015

Nick Jameson

Lifting sanctions on Iran would have major implications for the bunker industry.
Bring on the new ECA fuels

Sep 1, 2015

Gordon van der Brugge

Every shipowner should seriously consider consuming these alternatives to MGO.
The Global Cap

Jul 20, 2015

Robin Meech

The question is not when it will be introduced, but if it can be enforced.
Walking a tightrope blindfolded

Jul 20, 2015

Nick Jameson

Even for bunker players with years of experience the market is an unpredictable and unforgiving place.
Scrubbers: Scheme B - real time monitoring data

Jul 7, 2015

Chris Daw

Simplicity really is key when it comes to confirming compliance.
Dodging the Bullet

May 20, 2015

Nick Jameson

The bunker market has absorbed what could have been two stinging blows.
The ultimate MBM?

May 8, 2015

Unni Einemo

IMO regulation already contains a stronger incentive than any imaginable bunker or CO2 levy.
Taming Emissions

Apr 27, 2015

Nick Jameson

'Slow steaming is here to stay' was sounding a little less convincing at the beginning of 2015.
Bad Boys

Apr 9, 2015

Mustafa Muhtaroglu

Bunker suppliers are taking risks and do a lot of hard work for very little gain.
Dawn of the 'Open Platform'

Mar 9, 2015

Melvin Mathews

Standardisation in Gathering Big Data.
Should bunker prices dictate the industry's priorities?

Mar 5, 2015

Esa Henttinen

Now is not a time for short-term thinking.
Driving operational change with data-driven analytics

Mar 4, 2015

Henrik Lano

A systematic approach can reduce costs and improve performance.
Paris: Don't leave out planes and ships

Feb 18, 2015

Bill Hemmings

The relevant UN bodies should identify an emission reduction pathway, and ensure that any measures adopted are fair and equitable.
Rise of the 'Third Umpire' in the shipping industry

Feb 18, 2015

Melvin Mathews

Classification societies are no longer automatically chosen to monitor performance.
Not all black & white

Feb 11, 2015

Unni Einemo

The cost of ECA compliance has not been as high as feared, but it's not all plain sailing.
The end of the world as we know it

Dec 15, 2014

Roger Strevens

I regret to inform you that the world as we know it is about to end.
Benefits of energy efficiency investment

Dec 12, 2014

Arthur Bowring

The Owner will have the 'more preferred' ship, but will not otherwise be able to recoup his investment.
The future, Bunkers or Beggars?

Dec 10, 2014

Can Ertem

The collapse of OW Bunkers came as a surprise to many observers. Why was there so little warning things were going wrong?
Why we don't like ECAs

Nov 28, 2014

Arthur Bowring

There were several reasons why we thought ECAs may not be a good idea.
OW! That hurt...

Nov 24, 2014

Can Ertem

Maybe we will refer to November 7 - the day it became clear OW Bunker had collapsed - as a day that changed everything in our niche industry.
Discharges and the Polar Code

Oct 29, 2014

Craig Carter

Why would any shipowner take the risk of using oil lubrication in the fragile Arctic ecosystem?
Awash with oil

Oct 20, 2014

Jeff Kirk

As prices fall, some oil companies now seem to be at a loss as to what to do next.
Some thoughts on mass flow meters and short supply

Aug 20, 2014

Unni Einemo

If players think there will be a two-tier market as more MFMs are introduced, we have to ask why.
Future Fuels: Pret-a-Porter?

Aug 14, 2014

Douglas Raitt

There simply does not exist a one size fits all solution that would work for all ship operators and owners across the globe.
Buy on the dips!

Aug 11, 2014

Jeff Kirk

Brokers/traders telling clients to buy on an increasing market is ludicrous.
Standardised Credit Risk Management System?

Jul 16, 2014

Lawrence Lau

Use of guidelines can help prevent bunker companies from becoming overly reliant on their credit managers.
Playing Politics

Jul 16, 2014

Nick Jameson

With less than six months to go before stricter sulphur limits come into force the worlds of politics and shipping have collided in confused debate.
Testing times

Jun 18, 2014

Julian Macqueen

'If you don't analyse the material, you won't know how to treat it.'
An awful thought

May 12, 2014

Nick Jameson

Weak enforcement of ECA regulations could encourage some shipping companies to flout the rules.
Fuel consumption data collection can save fuel

Apr 28, 2014

Esa Henttinen

Response to Sustainable Shipping article: 'IMO focuses on fuel consumption data collection'.
Dealing with the unintended consequences of progress

Apr 11, 2014

Dr. Steve Dye

New efficient engine designs at higher risk of corrosion from sulphuric acid.
The Uncertainty Principle

Mar 31, 2014

Raymond Tan

The risk of default cannot be completely nullified if businesses want to maintain profitability.
No barrier to NOx Tier III

Mar 14, 2014

Yves Bonte

As IMO meets, the tide has already changed on emissions standards.
The black sheep of the particulate family

Jan 29, 2014

Unni Einemo

Particulates come in many different guises. One variety has been singled out for particular attention at the IMO.
Time is nigh

Jan 8, 2014

Maria Kyratsoudi

2015 is coming around sooner than we think, and it is time to take all relevant factors into consideration as regulatory pressure tightens.
2013: The Year Before the Year of LNG?

Dec 30, 2013

John Graykowski

The US is closer to reaching the LNG tipping point today than a year ago.
Time to get past the LNG 'Chicken & Egg' conundrum

Dec 13, 2013

Unni Einemo

If demand is there, even just the promise of demand, someone will find a way to supply it.
Perspectives on Shipping, Finance and the Environment

Nov 25, 2013

Alisdair Pettigrew

There are signs that the industry is reacting to the opportunities that environmental compliance and energy efficiency can deliver to the bottom line.
A question of value

Nov 1, 2013

Unni Einemo

Are ECAs a privilege only the most affluent countries can afford?
LNG: Ports as Catalyst?

Oct 14, 2013

John Graykowski

Ports can and should be a catalyst to spur development of LNG as a replacement fuel.
Don't forget ... a FREE Environmentally Acceptable Lubricant

Oct 10, 2013

Craig Carter

Two thirds of the world is covered in it - the most obvious and compliant EAL is right under our noses - Seawater.
Russian oil major wants to take bunker market into its hands

Oct 9, 2013

Elena Snitko

But independent companies play an important part in the St. Petersburg bunker market.
Castrol maintains accurate approach on BN

Sep 27, 2013

Paul Harrold

Asian container operator confirms that higher BN cylinder lubricants deliver more cost-effective control of liner corrosion.
The economic impacts of US ballast-water regulations

Sep 24, 2013

Dennis King

'Not reasonable to expect or assert that the overall economic impacts of US or IMO BW regulations will be significant'.
Greener shipping - hot air, or...?

Sep 24, 2013

Anne-Marie Warris

How did I defend the motion - 'This House believes that the demands for ever-greener shipping are so much hot air' at the WISTA UK grand debate?
A little clean air to go with that sunshine and sea breeze?

Sep 12, 2013

Haifeng Wang

Paying $10 per day more for a cruise holiday seems like a reasonable price to pay.
Oil leakage rules in Polar Code versus US EPA rules

Sep 5, 2013

Craig Carter

Shouldn't the oil leakage rules in Polar Code proposed by the US match US EPA rules?
EC proposal for MRV Regulation for shipping - Can we have a 'soft landing' please

Jul 11, 2013

Anne-Marie Warris

Time needed to test out some of the requirements and achieve the level of accuracy and detail the proposal envisages.
USA leading the way to prevent oil discharges from ships

Jun 17, 2013

Craig Carter

If you are a ship owner trading in US waters, take note of new Vessel General Permit requirements.
Alternative Alternatives

Jun 5, 2013

Douglas Raitt

While LNG has made a compelling case for itself as a future alternative bunker fuel, other options should also be thoroughly explored to ensure we do not place all our eggs in one basket.
Is port-based ballast water treatment a realistic option ?

May 9, 2013

Dennis King

Allowing ships to discharge to a port-based ballast water treatment facility makes sense from a regulatory perspective and is technically feasible, but economic and logistical constraints make this a non-option under almost all circumstances.
'Decoding' the Polar Code

May 1, 2013

Antoine Kedzierski

The highly contentious issues of increased black carbon emissions and the potentially disastrous effects of an HFO spill in the Arctic seem to be difficult pills to swallow.
Busting myths about Arctic shipping

Apr 9, 2013

Antoine Kedzierski

It is time to challenge conventional wisdom and examine commonly heard messages about Arctic shipping.
The iceberg is melting

Apr 4, 2013

Can Besev

Arresting vessels can quickly turn into a liability, rather than the matter of seizing an asset. What asset?
Black carbon in the Arctic

Apr 2, 2013

Ray Minjares

Black carbon and ozone precursors, particularly NOx, are the two components to worry about.
A robust Polar Code is more important than ever

Mar 27, 2013

Antoine Kedzierski

The Arctic sea routes exist because of global warming - they must not be allowed to make the global situation even worse.
New Class Rules for water lubricated propeller shaft bearings

Mar 22, 2013

Craig Carter

Good news for ship owners and the marine environment.
NGOs take alternative view in Polar shipping debate

Mar 19, 2013

John Kaltenstein

Environmental NGOs reply to International Chamber of Shipping position paper on Arctic shipping.
A little goes a long way

Mar 7, 2013

Dr. Steve Dye

'Ship operators are not aware of the great benefits that perceived minor, on-board maintenance can reap.'
'Muddling through' without gaming ballast water regulations

Feb 26, 2013

Dennis King

How should 'muddling through' influence the way IMO ballast water regulations are implemented?
What do you use yours for?

Feb 25, 2013

Jacqueline Phillips

The maritime credit report is more than just a credit rating for potential counterparties.
Are We Prepared?

Feb 18, 2013

Andy Wright

Infrastructure currently in place to support widespread adoption of LNG is still in its infancy.
Rewarding risk

Jan 29, 2013

Unni Einemo

If bunker providers play the role of banks in the shipping casino, there has to be something in it for them.
What happened to the Buyer?

Jan 10, 2013

Ivar Tonnesen

I am amazed how much an Owner is spending on anything that can/will improve the performance of his vessel while forgetting the most important person.
2012 - the year of efficiency discussion

Jan 9, 2013

Anne-Marie Warris

2013 promises to continue the focus on monitoring and therefore on efficiency.
Catching up with Doha, Durban, Cancun and Copenhagen

Dec 12, 2012

Anne-Marie Warris

Essentially there is no substantial change and shipping is no better off!
Survival of the fittest

Nov 27, 2012

Unni Einemo

This could prove to be a time for Darwinism in the shipping industry.
Quantity matters

Oct 15, 2012

Douglas Raitt

At current prices, minute inaccuracies in measuring fuel delivered can impact operating costs 'significantly'.
UNFCCC and IMO - the GHG debate continues

Sep 25, 2012

Anne-Marie Warris

Will the IMO MEPC negotiations experience some familiar statements and discussions? I believe so.
SEEMP - A new strategy to reduce bunker bills

Sep 13, 2012

Noël Jelsma

Introduction of SEEMP into operating procedures could mean significant savings across entire fleets.
Ship owners preparing for the future

Sep 3, 2012

Craig Carter

Ship owners who are thinking about building ships for the future need to consider a bunch of operational issues.
Blending - North American ECA-SOx

Aug 22, 2012

Douglas Raitt

Data shows some fuel suppliers are trying unconventional blend components to meet the demand for LSFO.
Masters of Bunker Credit

Aug 14, 2012

Can Besev

'Any fool can succeed in a rising market but it takes good management to steer through a falling one.'