The port of Houston in the US Gulf has seen consistently strong demand for bunker fuel over the past week. This high demand has led to a tightening of prompt fuel availability across the majority of suppliers in the region. Due to ongoing market volatility, suppliers are now requiring reconfirmation for all offers at the time of inquiry.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this situation implies potential delays in vessel bunkering operations in Houston. The extended lead times for High Sulphur Fuel Oil (HSFO) and Low Sulphur Marine Gas Oil (LSMGO) could impact vessel schedules and increase operational costs if ships are forced to wait or source fuel from alternative, potentially more expensive, locations. Forwarders should advise carriers and shippers to factor in these potential delays and reconfirm bunker availability and pricing well in advance when routing through Houston.
