Asia/Pacific News
Minimal Impact on Japan Bunker Market from Refinery Shutdown
Bunker fuel shipments from Cosmo Oil's Sakaide oil terminal in western Japan were suspended March 5, 2016 as part of a five-day maintenance programme, but this will have minimal impact on the local marine fuel markets, according to Platts.
Local players were said to have been given ample time to adjust their operations, and no tightness of avails has been reported.
Bunker volumes from Sakaide are understood to be around 10,000 to 15,000 metric tonnes (mt) per month.
Separately, Japan's Yokkaichi refinery was said to have undergone a similar shutdown last month, and restarted at the end of last week.
Bunker supply volumes in Central Japan were "OK" as a result, according to one source, who added that "berth availability at Yokkaichi is tight now and will remain so for the next few days.
"We heard that earliest supply dates for bunkering are probably around March 15-16."
In September of 2013 Ship & Bunker reported on a similar shutdown at the Sakaide facility.
