MABUX: October Bunker Prices Expected to Remain Volatile
September’s bunker market was driven primarily by geopolitical and supply-side factors. Middle East uncertainty, reduced Gulf and Russian product flows, and tight distillate and VLSFO supply supported prices, while weaker global oil demand expectations partly offset upward pressure. The key market drivers included: • Middle East conflict and Strait of Hormuz. Supply and shipping disruptions ...
Middle East tension and Strait of Hormuz disruptions kept geopolitical risk premiums high, causing bunker market volatility and briefly pushing Brent above $110 per barrel. Tight crude supply due to reduced Gulf output and depleted global inventories increased demand pressure, with diesel and gasoil prices remaining strong. VLSFO blending-component constraints also boosted VLSFO prices relative to crude and HSFO.
Regional bunker supply imbalances caused significant deviations between market prices and benchmark values, with all major hubs being underpriced in the MGO LS segment by September 30. Higher European compliance costs in Rotterdam contributed to shifts in bunker demand. LNG prices surged in September as European gas prices increased due to tighter LNG supply and low storage levels, reducing LNG's price competitiveness against conventional bunker fuels.
The ECA Spread in Istanbul and the MABUX Global Scrubber Spread narrowed in September, indicating a gradual stabilization of the market. Europe is entering winter with low gas storage levels and rising gas and LNG prices due to Middle East tensions and LNG supply disruptions, maintaining upward pressure on the market.
Written by urgent.news from Hellenic Shipping News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
