Business

China: Guangzhou bunkering volumes up 183% YTD on policy improvements

Guangzhou Customs migration to paperless system lauded by China Marine Bunker and CNOOC Guangzhou Petroleum Public Bonded Warehouse.

Published

5 years ago

December 30, 2021

Admin

The following article first published by Manifold Times on 30 December was sourced from China’s domestic market through a local correspondent. An online translation service was used in the production of the current editorial piece:

The introduction of government policies to support bonded bunkering operations and oil export tax rebates for domestic refineries at Guangzhou have resulted in growth of its regional marine refuelling sector, reports Guangzhou Daily.

From January to November 2021, Guangzhou Customs statistics issued 704 tickets for the release of fuel oil and diesel avails to bonded bunkering firms, totalling 346,400 metric tonnes (mt) and worth a value of RMB 1.194 billion (USD 190 million); the figures represent a year-on-year increase of 183%, 78%, and 163%.

Dong Hongwei, deputy general manager of China Marine Bunker Guangzhou Co., Ltd., said the firm supplied 251,000 mt of bonded bunkers worth RMB 800 million in the year to date.

“We are a company operating refined oil storage and ship fuel supply,” states Dong.

“Guangzhou Customs promptly guided our company to apply for the establishment of bonded warehouses, and rationally used the bonded warehouse’s ‘tax deferred’ policy to facilitate us to realise the supply of bonded imported oil in a short time.”

At the end of 2020, the General Administration of Customs issued relevant policies to promote the paperless declaration of ship materials.

The development led to Guangzhou Customs optimising the declaration process of bonded oil supply within the customs area by creating online processes for applications, warehouses, and verification and write-offs. As such, local oil enterprises need not submit paper-based work documents.

“We meet the fuel supply needs of companies in advance, and help companies become familiar with policies such as integrated customs clearance, full paperless supervision, and bonded account book declaration,” shared Huang Weihua, head of the integrated business section at Panyu Customs, a subsidiary of Guangzhou Customs.

“At the same time, we have established an online customs approval and coordination mechanism for fuel supply and fuel receiving areas, and realised ship supply applications.

“The online application, approval, and integration of supervision and management in such links as oil delivery and verification and clearance have greatly reduced the waiting time for enterprises.”

Guangzhou Customs’ migration to a paperless system has also resulted in benefits for prompt bonded bunker deliveries, highlights Wang Xiaorong, manager of Sinopec’s CNOOC Guangzhou Petroleum Public Bonded Warehouse.

“When encountering an emergency bunker fuel supply order for a ship on an international voyage, Guangzhou Customs will carry out paperless declaration review and supervision, and the relevant declaration process can be completed on the same day,” explains Wang.

“This helps us complete the bunkering operation in a short time after the ship arrives at the port, which has further improved the turnover efficiency of the berth. We will be more confident in accepting such urgent fuel supply orders in the future!”

Photo credit: Loeng Lig on Unsplash
Published: 30 December, 2021

Legal

Singapore withdraws remaining 127 charges against Hin Leong founder OK Lim

Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges on 17 July.

Published

11 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Founder of collapsed oil trader Hin Leong Trading, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, has had the remaining 127 charges against him withdrawn, according to The Straits Times on Monday (20 July).

OK Lim was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges, including those for cheating, on 17 July. The discharge means Lim cannot be prosecuted again for the same offences.

Lim, 84, is currently serving a 13½-year prison sentence after the High Court reduced his original 17½-year jail term in March 2026. He was convicted in 2024 on two cheating charges and one count of abetting forgery in a case prosecutors described as one of Singapore’s most serious trade finance frauds.

Lim was convicted in May 2024 of two charges of cheating the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and one count of abetting forgery that proceeded to trial out of a total of 130 criminal charges.

He was first charged in court on 14 August 2020, and was subsequently handed further charges in court on 25 September 2020, 30 April 2021 and 24 June 2021 for his role in perpetuating fraud on various financial institutions.

A total of 130 charges were eventually brought against him for cheating and forgery-related offences.

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Coastal Logistics was reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Published

11 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Several resolutions for Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary general meeting held on 14 July, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (4 July).

The following resolutions were duly passed during the meeting:

As Special Resolution

That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and accordingly the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018);

As Ordinary Resolutions

that Mr. Wong Pheng Cheong Martin and Ms. Koay May Yee, both care of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, One Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583 be appointed as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up; and
that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit; and
that a Committee of Inspection will not be formed.

Manifold Times previously reported Nicholas James Gronow, director of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping and Coastal Logistics, filed statutory declarations for both companies stating the firms cannot continue their businesses due to liabilities.

Both companies were reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

In 2019, several vessels owned by both firms entered the sale & purchase (S&P) market in Singapore.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Published

11 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post.

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026