Asia/Pacific News
New Low-Sulfur Supply Planned for East China
Sinopec Zhejiang Zhoushan Petroleum (Sinopec Zhoushan) plans to begin supplying low-sulfur bunker fuel in East China in the first quarter of 2014, Platts reports.
The supplier will provide fuel with no more than 1 percent sulfur content at ports such as Shanghai and Zhoushan.
A company source told Platts that firm demand for the fuel, currently sold only by China Marine Bunker Supply Company (Chimbusco), is expected.
Sinopec Zhoushan, which is waiting on government approval for its plans, will get the fuel from its domestic refineries, the source said.
Chimbusco announced plans in September 2012 to sell low-sulfur bunkers at Yangshan port near Shanghai.
Regulations requiring ships to use low-sulfur bunkers within the North American Emissions Control Area (ECA) have driven up demand for the fuel at Asian ports, including in Singapore, where bunker players said in March that a 20 percent increase in demand was expected over the course of 2013.
