Insights & Analysis

S&B VIEWPOINT: Can Russia Cling on to Its Bunker Market Share in the IMO 2020 Era?

Historically Russian bunker demand has totalled around 10-12 million mt/year.

28 Apr 2020

Scrubber Economics Under Pressure as Rotterdam HSFO Discount Narrows Below Key $50/MT Barrier

The HSFO-VLSFO spread at Rotterdam narrowed to a record low of $34/mt on Wednesday, around a tenth of its level at the end of 2019.

20 Apr 2020

Trident Alliance Warns Shipowners Against FONAR Use Where MGO is Available

Some FONARs filed so far this year explicitly mention non-availability of both 0.50%S and 0.10%S fuels. Others are more vague.

17 Apr 2020

No Weakening of Shipping GHG Targets Expected Despite Industry's Economic Woes

IMO's former emissions chief advises against the impulse to toughen them too.

9 Apr 2020

FEATURE: Bunker Industry Adjusts to New Working Practices Amid Virus Disruption

Some industry sources have reported operational problems caused by having the majority of staff working from home.

8 Apr 2020

No Imminent Risk of IMO-Level Scrubber Ban, Says Former Emissions Chief

The restrictions on open-loop scrubbers at some ports are more of an operational risk than a financial one, says Edmund Hughes.

2 Apr 2020

FEATURE: Bunker Companies Slash Payment Terms

Credit managers tell Ship & Bunker they have cut terms from 30 days to 15 for some customers, and to cash in advance for others.

1 Apr 2020

INTERVIEW: Former IMO Emissions Chief Edmund Hughes on 2020 So Far

Hughes, who oversaw the IMO's emissions regulation policies for much of the last decade until last month, says the COVID-19 pandemic may be postponing the real impact of IMO 2020.

31 Mar 2020

FEATURE: IMO Reports Show Sharp Drop in VLSFO Shortages

Just six FONARs were filed to the IMO in February, down from 41 in January.

23 Mar 2020

S&B ANALYSIS: Tracking the Coronavirus Pandemic's Impact on Bunker Demand

Ship & Bunker estimates demand could currently be down by as much as 8% worldwide.

19 Mar 2020

FEATURE: Remote Island FONAR Shows Environmental Dilemma for Scrubber Bans

Vessel forced to burn HSFO with its scrubber shut off to comply with local regulations.

11 Mar 2020

S&B ANALYSIS: OPEC+ Collapse and COVID-19 Could be Perfect Storm for Bunker Suppliers

Suppressed demand meeting rapidly increasing supply may mean trouble for smaller bunker suppliers.

9 Mar 2020

ANALYSIS: The Strange Death of 180 CST Fuel Oil

By January of this year 180 CST HSFO represented just 0.02% of total marine fuel demand in Singapore.

9 Mar 2020

ANALYSIS: IMO Fuel Reports Show VLSFO Shortage Blackspots

FONAR submissions for January suggest some countries' ports are becoming more unreliable for VLSFO supply than others.

4 Mar 2020

FEATURE: What IP Week Told Us About the Bunker Industry

The coronavirus outbreak and continued uncertainty over IMO 2020 conspired to rain on the bunker industry's IP Week parade this year.

3 Mar 2020

VIEWPOINT: Does Euronav's VLCC Purchase Signal an End to the War on Scrubbers?

With Euronav and Maersk now backing away from earlier criticism of scrubbers the industry's most powerful opponents have recanted.

12 Feb 2020

The Switch to IMO 2020 Bunker Fuels: So Far, So Good?

Despite earlier fears, widespread problems with new 0.50% sulfur VLSFO fuels have so far failed to materialize.

17 Jan 2020

Carbon Capture: The Overlooked Solution to Meet IMO GHG Goals?

Considered not viable just a year ago, industry has now clearly signalled it sees millage in the idea of capturing the carbon emissions from fossil fuels.

2 Dec 2019

ANALYSIS: How Much More Expensive Are IMO2020 Bunkers Really?

Latest data indicates good news for both VLSFO buyers and owners of scrubber equipped tonnage.

14 Nov 2019