EMEA News
Delays in Rotterdam, Antwerp LSFO Loadings
Bunker suppliers in Rotterdam and Antwerp said BP, Shell, and Totsa terminals were experiencing delays in low sulfur fuel oil (LSFO) bunker loadings Tuesday, Platts reports.
"LSFO supply is tight, BP and Shell cannot perform, they don't have fuel oil in their tanks," one source in Rotterdam said.
Sources said delays were short-term, apparently caused by issues with barge loading logistics.
"There's good availability of material longer term," one trader said.
As of Tuesday morning, premiums for the fuel were up, with 380 CST LSFO trading at $629 per metric tonne (pmt).
Ship & Bunker data put Rotterdam prices for the fuel at $624.50 pmt Wednesday.
Bunker barge loadings at Total's Antwerp terminal were slowed as cargo loadings were given priority.
"BP's loading programme moved backwards as they have been waiting currently at the Totsa [Antwerp] terminal since last week to load their 1% and there are more people waiting for Totsa to perform in Antwerp," a trader said.
Another trader suggested barge availability might be causing difficulties and said bunker suppliers had been waiting to load since Saturday morning, and another source said more than 10 barges were waiting to be loaded from the Total terminal.
Totsa is the main supplier of LSFO at Antwerp, while two other suppliers E.ON and Gunvor, were offering the fuel Tuesday, but at high premiums.
Late last year, a shortage of blending components lead to loading delays and rising prices for LSFO in Rotterdam.
