IMO 2020 marine fuel switch intensifies

Market: Oil products
12/11/19

Demand for 0.5pc sulphur marine fuel oil is ramping up in most of the world's largest ports, and the grade could account for 65pc of all marine fuel oil bought globally this month.

In Singapore, the world's largest bunkering hub, more than 43pc of delivered marine fuel deals received by Argus so far in November have been for 0.5pc fuel oil, and 0.1pc sulphur marine gasoil (MGO) accounted for 21pc. Demand for these two grades has been rising because they will be compliant with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) 0.5pc sulphur cap, which is effective from 1 January. The remaining Singapore deals were for high-sulphur marine fuel oil (HSFO), which will not be compliant with the IMO rule.

In China's bunkering fulcrum of Zhoushan, 0.5pc fuel oil has made up 37pc of deals received by Argus in November; HSFO and MGO made up 31pc and 32pc, respectively.

Sales of 0.5pc fuel oil have increased sharply in the Middle East's main bunkering location of Fujairah, UAE, where it is available from seven suppliers. Shipowners have been topping up fuel tanks with 200-500t of HSFO rather than filling them, to avoid being left with non-compliant fuel next year.

Suppliers in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) hub in northwest Europe have received an increasing number of enquiries for 0.5pc fuel oil this month. There has not been a drop in the number of enquiries for HSFO, the typical volumes requested have fallen from 2,000-3,000t to around 400t. HSFO will still be used by ships fitted with exhaust cleaning systems known as scrubbers.

Spanish integrated Cepsa's launch of 0.5pc fuel oil supply in Gibraltar and Algeciras last week increased availability in the Mediterranean market. Cepsa said the ratio of HSFO to 0.5pc fuel oil is 80:20, and it expects 0.5pc to become the main fuel this month. It started offering the product in Barcelona this week. Two suppliers in Las Palmas said the HSFO-0.5pc demand split is 60:40. One said this will flip to 30:70 or 20:80 by the end of the month.

Uptake of 0.5pc has been slower in the eastern Mediterranean. A supplier in Malta gauged it to 20-25pc of total demand and forecast it to reach 70pc by mid-December. Suppliers in Piraeus, Greece, started to receive requests for 0.5pc fuel oil last week. Motor Oil Hellas (MOH) has adapted its 175,000 b/d Corinth refinery to supply more compliant fuel. Hellenic Petroleum, the other refiner supplying the port, will start offering the grade from late November. In Istanbul, 0.5pc fuel oil has accounted for around 20-25pc of sales in November, according to two suppliers. They expect it to reach 70pc by mid-December.

Sales of 0.5pc fuel oil increased in Russia's far east in October and November. Four suppliers have been selling the grade on a limited basis. Shipowners' typical requested amount of HSFO has fallen to 200-300t. Suppliers in Baltic Sea ports, such as St Petersburg, have received a small number of 0.5pc fuel oil requests, but expect an uptick later this month.

Demand for 0.5pc fuel oil has lagged in North America, partly because of high prices. In South America, Brazil has made the switch to 0.5pc and MGO; state-controlled Petrobras stopped offering HSFO on 1 October. It said it produces enough 0.5pc fuel oil to meet domestic demand and exports the surplus. Argentinian suppliers have stopped offering HSFO in favour of 0.5pc fuel oil, but the opposite is the case in Peru and Ecuador where 0.5pc fuel oil is not yet available.

Globally, some shipowners have started buying 0.5pc fuel oil or MGO now so they have compliant fuel in at least one of a ships' tanks by mid-December, giving enough time to expel high-sulphur residues before the turn of the year. One shipowner with global reach said it bought 75pc HSFO and 25pc 0.5pc fuel oil in October. It expects 0.5pc to account for 65pc in November, 90pc in December and 100pc by January.

By Erik Hoffman and Enes Tunagur

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

News

06/05/25

US EIA will not release international outlook in 2025

Washington, 6 May (Argus) — The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) no longer expects to publish one of its major energy reports this year after losing some of its staff through President Donald Trump's efforts to downsize the federal workforce. The EIA does not plan to publish its International Energy Outlook (IEA) — which models long-term global trends in energy supply and demand — this year because of a loss of staff responsible for producing the report, according to an internal email initially reported by the news outlet ProPublica . The EIA confirmed the authenticity of the email. "At this point, you can assume that we will not be releasing the IEO this year," the EIA's Office of Energy Analysis assistant administrator Angelina LaRose wrote in the 16 April email. "This was a difficult decision based on the loss of key resources." Oil and gas producers, traders, utility companies, federal regulators and foreign governments have come to rely on the data and models from the EIA, an independent agency within the US Department of Energy. The 2025 version of the IEO might still be published early next year, the EIA said. The agency for now is focusing on trying to "preserve as much institutional knowledge as possible" with an "all hands-on deck" effort under which remaining staff will document models and procedures on long-term modeling, LaRose wrote in the email. Trump and his administration have worked to cut the size of the government's workforce through voluntary buyouts and a process known as a reduction in force. The EIA has yet to say how many personnel it has lost, but about a third of the agency's 350 staffers have accepted voluntary buyouts, according to a person familiar with the situation. The White House last week proposed an 18pc budget cut for the non-nuclear portions of the Department of Energy, but has yet to say if it is seeking to cut spending at the EIA. Last month, the EIA released its premier report, the Annual Energy Outlook , but omitted its traditional in-depth analysis. A technical issue on 1 May delayed the release of a key natural gas storage report by more than three hours, the EIA said. By Chris Knight Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Find out more

News

Mexico's manufacturing contraction deepens in April

05/05/25

News

05/05/25

Mexico's manufacturing contraction deepens in April

Mexico City, 5 May (Argus) — Activity in Mexico's manufacturing sector shrank for a 13th straight month in April, with declines accelerating in production and new orders, according to a survey of purchasing managers. The manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 45.5 in April from 46.9 in March, finance executives' association IMEF said, moving further below the 50-point threshold that separates growth from contraction. US tariffs imposed since March are adding pressure to Mexico's manufacturing sector, which makes up about a fifth of the national economy. The auto industry, responsible for roughly 18pc of manufacturing GDP, may be the hardest hit by the new measures, including a 25pc tariff on auto parts that took effect 3 May. Mexico remains the top exporter of vehicles to the US, supplying 23pc of all US auto imports in 2024. But IMEF said tariffs compound broader, mostly domestic headwinds, including reduced public spending and investor uncertainty stemming from sweeping legal and regulatory reforms. New investment has stalled since late 2024. The PMI index for new orders fell by 2.5 points to 41.8, the lowest since June 2020. Production dropped by 2.5 points to 43.6, while employment fell by 0.6 point to 46.4. New orders and production have now been in contraction for 14 straight months, and employment for 15. Inventories saw the steepest drop in April, falling 4 points to 46.3 — sliding from expansion to contraction — as manufacturers accelerated shipments after tariff implementation dates were confirmed. IMEF's non-manufacturing PMI — which covers services and commerce — remained in contraction for a fifth consecutive month but edged up by 0.5 points to 49.0 in April. Within that index, new orders rose by 0.6 points to 48.1, employment increased 1.3 points to 48.6 and production held steady at 47.5. By James Young Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Alcmene withdraws ExxonMobil Miro shares offer

05/05/25

News

05/05/25

Alcmene withdraws ExxonMobil Miro shares offer

Hamburg, 5 May (Argus) — Austrian company Alcmene has withdrawn from its plans to buy ExxonMobil's share in German refining joint venture Miro. Alcmene told ExxonMobil of the withdrawal on 29 April, putting an end to a drawn-out sales process. ExxonMobil agreed in October 2023 to sell its 25pc stake in Miro, which operates the 310,000 b/d Karlsruhe refinery in Germany. The sale was initially put on hold by a court order following a petition by fellow shareholder Shell in April 2024. The court in Karlsruhe dismissed ExxonMobil's appeal in the final instance in July, prohibiting the company from selling its stakes without prior agreement by Shell. Shell holds 32.25pc in the venture, Russian state-controlled Rosneft has 24pc and US firm Phillips 66 has 18.75pc. Rosneft's German business has been under state trusteeship since September 2022. Rosneft plans to sell all of its German assets. By Natalie Müller and Fenella Rhodes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Sunoco to buy Canadian fuel distributor Parkland:Update

05/05/25

News

05/05/25

Sunoco to buy Canadian fuel distributor Parkland:Update

Adds details on proxy fight, other background. Houston, 5 May (Argus) — US infrastructure operator and fuel distributor Sunoco said it will buy Canadian refiner and fuel retailer Parkland in a $9.1bn cash and stock deal. The deal comes as Parkland faces a proxy fight from its largest shareholder Simpson Oil, which was calling for a vote to change the board of directors at a now-cancelled 6 May shareholder meeting. The agreement with Sunoco "creates significant financial benefits for shareholders and would position the combined company as the largest independent fuel distributor in the Americas," said Michael Jennings, executive chairman of Parkland. The transaction will further diversify Sunoco's portfolio and geographic footprint and increase cash flow generation for reinvestment and distribution growth, Sunoco and Parkland said. Parkland owns about 4,000 retail and commercial locations in Canada, the US and the Caribbean region, as well as the 55,000 b/d refinery in Burnaby, British Columbia. The refinery produces conventional oil products and has 4,000 b/d of co-processing capacity, meaning both petroleum and biogenic feedstocks are used. Sunoco said it is committed to continue investment in the refinery which supplies fuel to southwestern BC, including the Vancouver area. Under the deal, Sunoco will keep a Canadian headquarters in Calgary and "significant employment levels" in Canada, the companies said. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of the year. Sunoco is part of the Dallas-based Energy Transfer family of companies but is publicly traded under its own ticker symbol. Parkland has planned a special meeting of its shareholders on 24 June, to approve the transaction. The annual general meeting of Parkland shareholders, which was originally scheduled for 6 May has been cancelled. Proxy fight building before deal Parkland in March said it was conducting a review of strategic alternatives including a possible sale of the company. The review was led by a special committee of the board of directors. Parkland long-time chief executive Bob Espey announced on 16 April that he would step down sometime this year with the timing depending on the completion of the strategic review or the appointment of a new chief executive. Simpson Oil, which holds about 20pc of Parkland shares, called for a strategic review of Parkland in 2024 and re-iterated its concerns in a letter to the Parkland board of directors in February. Parkland and Simpson Oil have been mired in a dispute related to a 2019 governance agreement. Simpson Oil said on 2 May that it had the support of more than 60pc of Parkland's shareholders which would enable it to take control of the Parkland board of directors. An official vote would have taken place at the now-cancelled shareholders meeting. Simpson Oil on Monday urged Parkland to "respect the democratic process" and allow the 6 May shareholders meeting to proceed as scheduled. "Delaying the meeting and pushing forward with any transaction ahead of board transition represents a clear breach of fiduciary duty—an obvious attempt to cling to power and sidestep shareholder will," Simpson Oil said in a press release. Simpson Oil also called for all 11 incumbent directors to resign immediately. In 2023, activist investor hedge fund Engine Capital said that Parkland should consider shedding assets "that create unnecessary complexity and detract from its underlying value." Engine Capital said at the time that the Burnaby refinery is a "volatile and more capital-intensive refinery" that should be sold or spun off. Parkland last year sold its Canadian commercial propane business to Avenir Energy for C$115mn. Sunoco, meanwhile, has been growing its footprint in North America. The company [last year acquired] (https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2530270) pipeline and terminal operator NuStar Energy for $7.3bn. By Eunice Bridges Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Sunoco to buy Canadian fuel distributor Parkland

05/05/25

News

05/05/25

Sunoco to buy Canadian fuel distributor Parkland

Houston, 5 May (Argus) — US firm Sunoco agreed to buy Canadian fuel distributor and retailer Parkland in a deal valued at $9.1bn, the companies said Monday. Sunoco, an energy infrastructure and fuel distribution company, will acquire all outstanding shares of Parkland in a cash and equity transaction. This deal "creates significant financial benefits for shareholders and would position the combined company as the largest independent fuel distributor in the Americas," said Michael Jennings, executive chairman of Parkland. The transaction will further diversify Sunoco's portfolio and geographic footprint and increase cash flow generation for reinvestment and distribution growth, the companies said. Parkland owns a 55,000 b/d refinery in Burnaby, British Columbia, which produces conventional oil products and has 4,000 b/d of co-processing capacity, meaning both petroleum and biogenic feedstocks are used. Sunoco said it is committed to continue investment in the refinery which supplies fuel to southwestern BC, including the Vancouver area. Parkland owns about 4,000 retail and commercial locations in Canada, the US and the Caribbean region. Under the deal, Sunoco will keep a Canadian headquarters in Calgary and "significant employment levels" in Canada, the companies said. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of the year. Parkland has planned a special meeting of its shareholders on 24 June, to approve the transaction. The annual general meeting of Parkland shareholders, which was originally scheduled for 6 May has been cancelled. Parkland in March said it was conducting a review of strategic alternatives including a possible sale of the company. The review was led by a special committee of the board of directors. Parkland last year sold its Canadian commercial propane business to Avenir Energy for C$115mn. By Eunice Bridges Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more