Asia/Pacific News
Chinese VLSFO Imports Decline After Local Production Boost
China's imports of very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) have dropped sharply since a change in taxation prompted an increase in production by its domestic refiners, according to price reporting agency Argus Media.
Fuel oil exports from Singapore and Malaysia to China dropped to 550,000-650,000 mt and 650,000-750,000 mt respectively in March, Argus reported Tuesday, from well above 1 million mt in February, and exports have decreased further since March.
China has applied a long-awaited rebate on value added tax on fuel oil from February this year, incentivising domestic refiners to produce VLSFO in large quantities.
Exports in the form of bunker sales at Chinese ports have already begun, and prices at Zhoushan dropped to a discount to Singapore's levels last month as supplies increased.
