ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Bunker fuel availability in North America is currently tight, particularly at the US Gulf ports of Houston and Galveston. Houston's all three conventional grades of bunker fuel are in short supply, with recommended lead times ranging from over five days to a week. Some suppliers may even demand lead times of more than seven days depending on the size of the enquiry. Night-time closures starting late December due to bridge construction could further disrupt vessel traffic in Houston.

At Galveston's Offshore Lightering Area, all three fuel grades are tight, with lead times stretching to 6-8 days. Rough weather at the anchorage could add to delivery delays. Fog poses a low visibility threat at Galveston through Wednesday, but turns moderate on next Tuesday, reducing visibility to around 4 nautical miles.

In contrast to Houston and Galveston, Corpus Christi has moderate fog expected on Tuesday, with visibility dropping to 4 nautical miles. Bunker demand has increased at New York over the week, with VLSFO and HSFO needing more than five days for prompt supply, while LSMGO is relatively in better supply with lead times of 2-3 days.

The US Gulf coast from Brownsville to Tampa has low fog threat, with bunker demand generally tight but not critical. At New York, availability for prompt supply of VLSFO and HSFO is tight, whereas LSMGO is relatively available with 2-3 day lead times.

Tropical systems such as Subtropical Storm Josephine and Tropical Storm Vance are active but not expected to threaten bunker operations in the region. Subtropical Storm Josephine is accelerating northeastward away from the coast, while Tropical Storm Vance is well off Mexico’s Pacific coast.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, bunker availability is tightened across all three grades at the ports of Balboa and Cristobal in Panama. Demand is reported to be muted, with suppliers needing more than a week to deliver VLSFO and LSMGO. HSFO is the most tight, requiring lead times of 8-10 days. Panama's bunker sales fell by around 7% in September from August, with HSFO volumes reaching their lowest monthly level since July 2023.

In Colombia, HSFO availability is tight at Cartagena and requires prior consultation with suppliers. VLSFO and LSMGO are relatively in better supply, with earliest delivery dates of 3-4 days. In Peru, HSFO availability is tight at Callao and requires prior consultation. At Brazil's Santos port, VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal with lead times of 4-7 days.

Rio de Janeiro can supply HSFO but requires prior consultation, with VLSFO and LSMGO availability normal and 4-7 day lead times. Paranagua, Belem, and Vila do Conde in Brazil have normal availability of VLSFO and LSMGO, with lead times of 3-7 days. In Argentina's Zona Comun, VLSFO and LSMGO availability is tight, with lead times of 8-10 days.