Marine fuel global weekly market update
Marine fuel global weekly market update
A weekly Argus news digest of interest to the conventional and alternative marine fuel markets. To speak to our team about accessing the stories below and access to Argus Marine Fuels, please contact marinefuels@argusmedia.com.
Alternative marine fuels
New York, 4 August World Kinect bunker sales slump but profit is up US-based fuel supplier World Kinect, formerly known as World Fuel Services, boosted its profit in the second quarter from a year earlier, as its cost cutting outpaced falling sales.
Singapore, 4 August Methanex hikes China methanol contract price, cuts Asia Canada-based methanol producer Methanex has hiked its China Posted Contract Price (CPCP) for August, but lowered its Asian Posted Contract Price (APCP) for a fifth consecutive month.
London, 3 August Brooge Energy moves ahead with UAE green ammonia plant Cayman Islands-based Brooge Renewable Energy has completed a feasibility study on an export-focused green ammonia project in Abu Dhabi in the UAE.
London, 3 August Thyssenkrupp Uhde to collaborate on green ammonia FSPO German chemical engineering firm Thyssenkrupp Uhde will collaborate with a consortium to develop a green ammonia and hydrogen floating production and offloading vessel (FPSO) by 2027.
London, 3 August Italiy's Hysytech to develop Swedish bio-LNG project Italian energy engineering company Hysytech has been awarded a contract to upgrade a Swedish biogas site to produce liquefied biomethane (bio-LNG).
Houston, 3 August PBF 2Q margins down, first renewable fuel sales US independent refiner PBF's margins were more than halved in the second quarter, but overall profits were only marginally down from the same period in 2022.
London, 3 August Global LNG output rebounds in July Aggregate LNG output from producers rebounded in July, both on the year and the month, supported by quicker exports from the US and Australia.
London, 3 August S Korea's HHI receives order for two LNG carriers South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has received a new order for two LNG carriers.
Brussels, 2 August EU consults on ETS implementation The European Commission has published further draft technical legislation for consultation, notably allowing for the inclusion of maritime and further aviation emissions in the bloc's emissions trading system (ETS), as well as an additional scheme covering road transport and building emissions.
New York, 1 August Fuel oil bunkering to linger despite new GHG rule The International Maritime Organisation (IMO)'s revised greenhouse gas (GHG) regulation for marine fuel will dent residual fuel oil demand, but the market could persist on demand from oil tanker and dry bulk vessel owners, and on production from decarbonised petroleum refineries.
Sao Paulo, 1 August Brazil's Bndes expands sustainable biofuels financing Brazil's state-owned development bank Bndes has expanded sustainability-linked financing available to the biofuel sector to R3.5bn ($730mn), after approving an R1.5bn boost in the loans to producers that agree to reduce their carbon footprints.
London, 31 July SK's Hanwha Ocean receives LNG carrier order South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean has received a construction order for an LNG carrier to be delivered before March 2027.
Conventional marine fuels
London, 4 August Ban squeezes Europe's HSFO supply The EU ban on Russian fuel oil imports has been a bigger problem for Europe than for Russia — unsurprising, considering Russian high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) accounted for a much bigger share of EU imports than of Russian exports.
London, 4 August Unit to restart at ExxonMobil's UK Fawley refinery ExxonMobil said it will return a unit online at its 270,000 b/d Fawley refinery in the UK this coming weekend after a turnaround.
London, 4 August Croatian VGO imports at record in July: Vortexa Croatia's vacuum gasoil (VGO) imports were 69,000t in July — the highest on record — and other major European consumers raised their receipts, according to data from Vortexa.
Kingston, 4 August Drought effects to cost Panama Canal $200mn The Panama Canal is projecting fiscal year 2024 revenues to be $200mn less than its initial $4.9bn estimate, its administrator Ricaurte Vasquez said.
London, 3 August Russian sanctions squeeze HSFO supplies in the EU The EU ban on Russian fuel oil imports has been a bigger problem for Europe than for Russia — unsurprising, considering Russian high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) accounted for a much bigger share of EU imports than of Russian exports.
London, 3 August Drop in fuel oil pressures ARA stocks Independently-held oil product stocks at the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) oil trading hub fell marginally in the week to 2 August, according to Insights Global, to 5.68mn t. A near 6pc dip in fuel oil inventories drove the downturn.
New York, 3 August Panama Canal delays boost clean rates to Chile, Peru The longest delays in at least two years at the Panama Canal's Panamax locks are causing clean tanker operators to charge premium rates to take US Gulf coast refined product shipments across the canal to South America's Pacific coast, or avoid canal transits altogether.
New York, 2 August Peru HSFO exports double on production spike Peru high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) exports nearly doubled in the first five months of the year on significantly higher production.
Singapore, 2 August Kuwaiti al-Zour August LSFO offers to weaken Kuwaiti state-owned KPC's low-sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) offers from its 615,000 al-Zour refinery are expected by market participants to slow this month because of reduced production.
London, 2 August Scorpio Tankers bullish despite drop in rates Scorpio Tankers' profits fell in the second quarter of 2023 on lower vessel earnings amid weaker summer demand, but the product tanker owner remains bullish about the market because of robust product demand and low inventories leading to record levels of seaborne exports.
New York, 1 August Clean tanker demand to rise ‘significantly': Ardmore A drawdown of European diesel stocks is expected to increase EU import demand for refined products, boosting ton-mile demand for product tankers in the process, according to tanker owner Ardmore Shipping.
New York, 1 August Norwegian Cruise reports first profit since 2019 US-based Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) reported its first profit since 2019 as passenger demand continues to rise after the Covid-19 pandemic.
New York, 1 August Fuel oil bunkering to linger despite new GHG rule The International Maritime Organisation (IMO)'s revised greenhouse gas (GHG) regulation for marine fuel will dent residual fuel oil demand, but the market could persist on demand from oil tanker and dry bulk vessel owners, and on production from decarbonised petroleum refineries.
London, 1 August Gibraltar suspends port operations after oil spill Operations have been halted at the port of Gibraltar today following an oil spill.
Houston, 1 August US Gulf coast VGO-LSFO premium nears 2-month high US Gulf coast low sulphur VGO premiums to low sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) extended to $11.25/bl this week behind gains in both markets.
New York, 1 August Panama Canal delays expected to increase Wait times for vessels transiting Panamax and Neopanamax locks at the Panama Canal — the key route for US Gulf exports of LPG to Asia-Pacific — will "invariably increase" owing to additional water-conservation measures as drought conditions affect the waterway, according to the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).
Hamburg, 1 August Rising Rhine water levels lower freight rates Rising Rhine river water levels have allowed for an increase in loading capacity on barges and have reduced freight rates for journeys from the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) hub to inland destinations.
Shanghai, 31 July China's fuel oil output rises in January-June China produced 27.07mn t fuel oil in the first half of this year, up by 11pc on the year, according to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data.
London, 31 July Saudi Bahri shipping profits up in 2Q Saudi Arabian state-owned shipping firm Bahri's profits rose year on year in the second quarter, boosted by higher revenues in the crude and chemicals transportation sectors.
Related news posts
Low Argentina rivers lift Brazil biodiesel
Low Argentina rivers lift Brazil biodiesel
Sao Paulo, 26 September (Argus) — A drop in river levels in Argentina's Parana upriver region amid a historical drought has snarled transport and inflated soybean oil and biodiesel prices in Brazil. The depth of the Parana River in Argentina's San Lorenzo city, a major hub for soybean oil shipments, dropped to 9.44m (30ft) on 20 September, the lowest level since January 2023, according to information provided by maritime agencies T&T and Antares. The lower river flow is forcing soybean oil traders to reduce how much product they load onto tankers that stop at Argentinian ports by between 5-12.5pc, according to Argentina market sources. A 12.5pc capacity reduction on a standard tanker would mean a loading 28,000 metric tonnes (t) instead of 32,000t. These restrictions have affected the Brazilian soybean oil and biodiesel market, as trading companies seek additional volumes in Brazilian seaports to complete shipments for export. A change in Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) differentials at the port of Paranagua was first observed on 27 September, when the premium for selling soybean oil for shipment in October rose to 8¢/lb in relation to the future contract traded on the CBOT. Earlier in the week, offers were close to 1.8¢/lb. On 25 September, negotiations ranged between premiums of 2.5-5.5¢/lb in relation to the soybean oil future contract due in October, corresponding to prices between $1,034-1,100/t fob Paranagua. Last week, the Argus fob Paranagua indicator closed between $934-1,009/t. Soybean availability in the Brazilian market is reduced amid strong demand in the domestic market, driven by an increase in the biodiesel blending mandate to 14pc from 12pc in March. The rise in domestic demand has also reduced the competitiveness of Brazilian exports, contributing to a drop in soybean oil shipments to ports. Brazil's association of vegetable oil industries Abiove predicts that 2024 exports will total 1.15mn t, nearly half of the volumes dispatched in 2023. Lever effect The low availability of soybean oil in the Brazilian market was concerning market participants even before the deterioration of the situation in Argentina. The price of soybean oil for export is the main factor in the price equation for most supply contracts between biodiesel producers and distributors. Logistics problems associated with a lower Parana River contribute to the imbalance between increased demand for soybean oil in the biodiesel sector and a shortage of product in the market. Soybean oil is the main input for biodiesel production in Brazil, accounting for 72.5pc of all feedstocks used in national production in the first eight months of 2024, according to data from hydrocarbons regulator ANP. And rising soybean oil prices tend to boost prices of other raw materials, such as beef tallow, which represented 6.5pc of biodiesel inputs in the same period. Faced with the rising cost of inputs, Brazilian biodiesel plants have been prioritizing the delivery of volumes contracted for the September-October supply period and the delivery of overdue volumes for the previous bi-monthly period. That has limited the availability of spot market volumes. This sudden rise in the price of soybean oil in Paranagua has also reduced the domestic market premium in relation to the export market. This makes it more attractive for regional producers to sell product abroad. By Amance Boutin and Joao Marinho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Aug wildfires in Brazilian state surge eightfold
Aug wildfires in Brazilian state surge eightfold
Sao Paulo, 26 September (Argus) — Fires in Sao Paulo, Brazil's most populous state, increased eightfold in August from the same month last year, an "alarming rate" amid extreme climate conditions that harm the sugarcane industry, sector associations said. The state had 11,628 fire outbreaks last month, more than triple the historic average of 3,550. Nearly half of the fires took place on 23 August alone, according to data from industry association Canaoeste and fire monitoring network GMG Ambiental. Fires hit 658,600 hectares. The town of Pitangueira had the most blazes, at 354. Altinopolis and Sertaozinho came in second and third, with 252 and 296, respectively. Nearly all of the most affected towns have high production of sugarcane. The groups highlighted that 20-24 August fires happened as low humidity, high temperatures and strong winds put Sao Paulo in "extreme risk" for wildfires. The data was shown in a meeting with several industry representatives, such as Canoeste, Unica and Orplana. The groups added that sugarcane producers were not responsible for the fires nor were benefiting from them, defending themselves from accusations that they could be lighting fires to accelerate harvesting — an old common practice supposedly abolished. By Maria Ligia Barros Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US Gulf oil shut-ins drop as Helene nears landfall
US Gulf oil shut-ins drop as Helene nears landfall
New York, 26 September (Argus) — US Gulf of Mexico oil production shut-in levels fell today as Hurricane Helene bore down on Florida's west coast as a category 3 storm, bringing the threat of dangerous storm surge and winds. Around 441,923 b/d of US offshore oil output, or 25pc, was off line as of 12:30pm ET, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). That is down from 29pc on Wednesday as the eastern Gulf path of the storm took it farther away from most offshore production facilities. About 363.39mn cf/d of natural gas production, or 20pc of the region's output, was also off line today, up from 17pc on Wednesday. Operators have evacuated workers from 27 offshore platforms. Helene was last about 145 miles west-southwest of Tampa, Florida, packing maximum winds of 120mph, according to a 4pm ET advisory from the US National Hurricane Center. Further intensification is likely and Helene could approach the coast at category 4 strength, with winds of at least 130mph. Landfall is expected near Port Leon on Apalachee Bay Thursday evening before Helene is forecast to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and into the weekend. Earlier this week, offshore operators including BP, Equinor and Chevron took the precaution of suspending some operations and evacuating workers from offshore facilities in advance of the hurricane. Some facilities have since started back up as the hurricane's track shifted away from the main oil and gas hub in the region. By Stephen Cunningham Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil's drought: Northern rivers still dropping
Brazil's drought: Northern rivers still dropping
Sao Paulo, 26 September (Argus) — The worst drought in Brazil's history continues to reduce river levels in the Northern Arc region, hampering navigation on rivers that are used as waterways and are important routes to transport grains and fertilizers. Madeira waterway The waterway links Rondonia state's capital Porto Velho to the Itacoatiara port, in Amazonas state. Itacoatiara port is expected to receive around 371,435 metric tonnes (t) of fertilizers in September, according to line up data from shipping agency Unimar. Status: The situation is most critical in the Madeira waterway, the second largest in the northern region, in Porto Velho. The state's ports and waterways authority (Soph) halted operations there on 23 September because the Madeira River's depth at the port reached 25cm (9.8in), the lowest since monitoring began in 1967. The Madeira River depth in Porto Velho increased to 34cm on 26 September, according to monitoring data from the Brazilian Geological Survey (SGB). Amazonas waterway It is the main waterway in Brazil's north, handling around 65pc of the region's cargo, according to the national transportation and infrastructure department (Dnit). It links Amazonas' capital Manaus to Para's capital Belem. Status: The Negro River has also been falling. The depth was at almost 13.88m at the SGB monitoring point in Manaus on 26 September — an extreme drought level and very close to the historic low of 13.64m recorded in 2023. Tapajos waterway It is an important waterway to move production from Mato Grosso state's northern area, with the Santarem port, in Para state, as a destination. The Santarem port handled nearly 4mn t of cargo in 2023, with fertilizers accounting for 578,630t, according to the Para port authority. Status: The Tapajos-Teles Pires waterway is also facing a dire situation. The national water and sanitation agency ANA declared a water shortage on the Tapajos River on 23 September. Drier weather than usual has dropped the levels of Tapajos, especially in the stretch between Itaituba and Santarem cities, in Para state, where flows are below the minimum levels observed in history. The depth of the Tapajos River at the Itaituba monitoring point, where the transfer point for the Miritituba waterway is located, was at 92cm on 26 September, below the record low of 132cm, according to SBG data. At the Santarem monitoring point, where the port of Santarem is located, the Tapajos River was at 74cm, a level considered dry. The historical minimum at the location is -55cm below the port's reference point. A level below zero does not mean the river is dry, but a negative reading indicates very low conditions. Tocantins-Araguaia waterway The Tocantins-Araguaia waterway encompasses the Araguaia and Tocantins rivers. It runs from the Barra do Garcas city, in Mato Grosso, onto the Araguaia River, or from Peixes city, in Tocantins state, onto the Tocantins River, to the port of Vila do Conde, in Para. Soybeans, corn, fertilizers, fuels, mineral oils and derivative products are transported via the northern waterways. Vila do Conde port handled 19.3mn t of cargo in 2023, according to Para port authority. Status: The SGB has two monitoring points on the Araguaia River. In the Nova Crixas city, in Goias state, the river was at 299cm, below the historical level of 310cm. In Sao Felix do Araguaia city, in Mato Grosso state, the river was at 257cm, a situation of extreme drought and close to the historical minimum level of 251cm. In September, the federal government announced investments of R500mn ($91.4mn) to carry out dredging work on stretches of rivers in Amazonas. Para's state government requested another R146mn to address problems caused by the drought. By João Petrini Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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