World News
IMO 2020 Premium Evaporates, Price Paid for Bunkers in March 20% Lower than in 2019
The premium for IMO 2020 bunkers evaporated in March with the average price paid for bunkers in major ports 20% lower last month compared to March 2019, according to Ship & Bunker Data.
The introduction of a global 0.50% sulfur cap on January 1, 2020 means most vessels are now burning VLSFO fuel, rather than the IFO380 HSFO they were lifting last year. This means buyers, operators, and those with BAF agreements should compare VLSFO prices this year with IFO380 prices in 2019 to gauge the real-world year over year change in bunker costs.
Looking at Ship & Bunker's Global Top 20 Ports index that tracks bunker prices across 20 of the world's top bunkering markets, the monthly average VLSFO price for March was $351.50/mt. This compares with the average IFO380 price for March 2019 of $425/mt.
This is in sharp contrast to the picture in January when the average VLSFO price was $651/mt, compared to January 2019's average IFO380 price of $392.50/mt.
Looking at weekly averages during the first quarter, for the first nine weeks of 2020 VLSFO has been higher than IFO380 during the equivalent period in 2019, and lower thereafter.
The rapid fall in the price of bunkers has predominantly been brought about by last month's dramatic 50% decline in the price of crude.
But with crude prices jumping as much as 35% Thursday after US President Donald Trump hinted at huge production cuts, it remains to be seen how long the current low price environment will last.
About Martyn Lasek
Martyn is the Founder and Managing Director of Ship & Bunker, the world’s most read marine fuel-focused publication.
With a career building information systems and online publishing spanning over 25 years, he has been providing critical information to the bunker industry since 2002.
Martyn is based in Vancouver, Canada.
About Ship & Bunker
Ship & Bunker is the world's most read publication focused on the marine fuel markets. Completely independent, it is the leading industry authority providing comprehensive daily news, exclusive in-depth features and analysis, along with daily & historical bunker price indications.
To contact the editor responsible for this story email us at editor@shipandbunker.com
Key Bunker Prices More
| VLSFO | MGO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $/mt | +/- | $/mt | +/- | |
| Singapore | 646.50 | 5.50 | 773.50 | 11.50 |
| Rotterdam | 604.00 | 5.00 | 756.00 | 5.00 |
| Houston | 630.50 | 1.00 | 798.50 | 4.00 |
| Fujairah | 650.50 | 3.00 | 897.00 | 13.50 |
| Global 20 Ports Average | 662.50 | 1.00 | 858.50 | 0.50 |
| Global 4 Ports Average | 633.00 | 3.50 | 806.00 | 6.50 |
| Global Average Bunker Price | 718.50 | 0.50 | 914.00 | 1.00 |
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