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Singapore bunker sales fall to 14-month low in April

  • Märkte: Oil products
  • 14.05.26

Bunker sales at the key hub of Singapore fell to a 14-month low in April as the US-Iran conflict took its toll, according to preliminary data released by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on 14 May.

But consumption improved on the year for B100 and LNG as competitive prices of these new fuels versus conventional bunker prices spurred interest.

Total bunker consumption in Singapore nudged down by 1.2pc on the year to 4.35mn t in April and fell by 8.7pc on the month. The decline was in line with market expectations of demand destruction after the US-Iran war started, which put pressure on Singapore prices in April.

Slower downstream trading in the bunker sector also surfaced despite Singapore remaining a preferred refuelling destination for most vessels. April vessel arrivals rose by 3pc on the year to 10,873.

Low-sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) sales also fell to a 14-month low of 2.19mn t, down by 2pc on the year, as many buyers delayed non-urgent bunkering on elevated prices.

Similarly, buyers had weak demand for low-sulphur marine gasoil (LSMGO), with April sales dropping by over 18pc on the year to around 256,000t, extending a downtrend since the start of the year.

Sales for high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) fell to a 10-month low of 1.79mn t in April, but edged up by 5pc on the year. This was likely supported by stronger demand from scrubber-fitted vessels opting for lower-cost HSFO compared with very-low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), as well as longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope.

B100, LNG sales rise

Demand for alternative fuels remained subdued overall in April. Sales in Singapore fell by 23pc on the year and was down 17pc on the month to around 519,000t, with biodiesel accounting for the largest share at nearly 62pc.

But buying interest for B100 strengthened given that the spread had narrowed against conventional fuel oil prices, and sales jumped to around 6,500t, compared with roughly 300t a year earlier. B100 prices were above $1,300/t delivered on board (dob) in April, although spot trading remained muted as many buyers preferred term contracts, market participants said.

LNG demand also firmed in April, with bunker sales up by almost 1pc to over 42,000t in Singapore. LNG prices averaged $661.96/t dob Singapore on a VLSFO equivalent basis, while average April prices stood at $17.37/t dob on mnBtu basis.


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