Americas Fuel Availability Outlook

North America

Bunker fuel demand has increased in Houston this week as many buyers rushed to book supplies ahead of the US Independence Day holiday on Thursday. Additionally, Hurricane Beryl is expected to make landfall on the US Gulf Coast over the weekend, potentially driving up bunker fuel prices at ports along the Gulf Coast. This has further contributed to the increased bunker demand in Houston.

So far this week, availability has been good in Houston. Several suppliers are able to offer stems for prompt delivery.

Bunker demand has again slowed down at the New Orleans Outer Anchorage (NOLA) this week because of an uptick in bunker fuel prices. All grades remain in good supply for prompt delivery in NOLA.

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO has been good for prompt dates in Bolivar Roads. Deliveries there, however, are still subject to weather conditions and supplier 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, same as last week.

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

Similarly, much less demand has been observed in the East Coast port of New York, where most suppliers are willing to offer stems for very prompt dates.

Caribbean and Latin America

Hurricane Beryl made a landfall in Jamaica on Thursday morning, which led to the suspension of port operations in Kingston. Port operations in St. Eustatius, Trinidad, Curacao, Aruba, and Puerto Rico have remained suspended since Monday, when the hurricane struck the southeastern Caribbean’s Grenada.

Bunker fuel demand has been normal 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.

Bunker operations resumed in Zona Comun on Wednesday after being suspended for nearly seven days because of bad weather conditions. VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains tight for prompt dates at Argentina’s Zona Comun anchorage, and a lead time of at least 10 days is recommended to secure stems, a source says.

Bunker fuel demand was mostly low in most of the Brazilian ports this week. VLSFO availability remains robust across these ports, according to most suppliers.
Source: ENGINE, https://engine.online/news