Americas News
Bigger Ships Bulk up Bunker Demand in Panama: Petroleum Argus
Sales of marine fuels in Panama rose by 19% in the first nine months of this year compared with the same period a year ago. 3.48 million metric tonnes (mt) were sold in 2017 with fuel oil at 3.22 million mt and marine gasoil sales at 259,543 mt, a rise of 33% on distillate sales.
The increase in bunker demand on a per vessel basis, prompted by larger ship sizes, could be part of the overall sales tonnage increase, according to price reporting agency Petroleum Argus.
"The number of neopanamax [larger ships] transits grew to 153-170 per month this year," the report said.
"The number of smaller ships transits shrunk to an average of 842 per month during the first nine months of 2017, compared with an average of 929 per month during the same period last year.
"But the total number of vessels transiting the canal has been steady from before the expansion at about 1,000 per month," according to Petroleum Argus.
Panama is the second busiest bunkering location in Latin America after Brazil.
