Asia/Pacific News
Japan's Bonded Bunker Sales Edge Up
Japan saw a slight increase in its annual bonded bunker sales for 2013, which rose 0.6 percent year on year to 4.19 million kiloliters (kl) (26.38 million barrels), according to information from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry reported by Platts.
However imports of the tax exempt bunker fuel in 2013 fell 61.9 percent year on year to 86,276 kl.
Sales of bonded marine diesel oil in 2013 dropped 13.3 percent over 2012, at 67,392 kl.
Market sources said Japan enjoyed particularly strong demand in November and December thanks to tight supply in the neighbouring ports of China and South Korea, with December Bonded bunker sales up 14.8 percent over the previous December to 376,394 kl.
December's sales of bonded marine diesel oil grew 1.8 percent from the previous year to 6,792 kl.
