ENGINE’s latest report on bunker fuel availability in Europe and Africa indicates that the supply situation varies significantly across different regions. In **Northwest Europe**, the availability of high-sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) in Rotterdam and the surrounding ARA hub is notably tight. Currently, lead times have increased to 8-10 days, up from 5-7 days the previous week, primarily due to delays in barge loading.
In contrast, very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) is still constrained for prompt deliveries, with recommended lead times of 5-7 days, while low-sulfur marine gas oil (LSMGO) is readily available with lead times of 3-5 days. Independent fuel oil stocks in the ARA have decreased by 9% this month compared to February, and the region has imported only 157,000 b/d of fuel oil so far, down from 298,000 b/d during the previous month. The United Kingdom has emerged as the largest source of fuel oil imports, accounting for 28% of the total.
In the **Mediterranean**, the lead times in Gibraltar remain consistent at 5-7 days, despite severe congestion caused by rough weather conditions, which has resulted in a backlog of vessels at the port. However, the situation is easing, with the backlog recently decreasing from 24 to 16 vessels. In the Canary Islands, particularly in Las Palmas, prompt supply is still limited, but other hub cities like Istanbul and Piraeus have ample availability.
Notably, Istanbul has a well-stocked bunker supply, with favorable weather conditions expected for the week. Lastly, in **Africa**, VLSFO supply is tight in the South African ports of Durban and Richards Bay, where lead times are advised at 7-10 days. Conversely, Angola’s Luanda is experiencing good supply levels for both VLSFO and LSMGO, with no more than five days recommended for optimal coverage.