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Marine fuel consultants explain Singapore’s 10.8% on year bunker sales increase in April

April bunker sales results released on Wednesday caught several players, who expected volume to fall due to lower international trade and COVID-19, by surprise.
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Manifold Times Bunkering Vessels

April’s 10.8% on year rise of bunker sales at Singapore port was a surprise to many, who expected the month’s volume at the republic to fall due to lower international trades and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times took to the occasion and approached local marine fuel consultancies Azure Strategic Resources and SDE International to shed light about the development.

Dennis Ho, Director & Founder of Azure Strategic Resources, explained Singapore’s total bunker volume in April 2019 was firstly at a low of 3.7 million mt – a low base when compared to the 4.1 million mt of bunker sales at Singapore in April 2020, which is largely in line with the average monthly volume of 4 million mt within the past two years.

“Quite a fair amount of supplies was fixed on a contract basis prior to the start of IMO 2020 implementation on 1 January. It is possible that these contracts are still being fulfilled,” he adds.

“The Singapore increase in volume may also come at the expense of other smaller ports where supply of 0.5% sulphur compliant fuel may not be reliable. In fact, other major ports like Rotterdam and Zhoushan have been reporting healthy demand.

“Traders and buyers which I talked to commented their April demand was largely unchanged and in fact saw a pick up towards end April.  This is likely due to the steep correction in prices following the negative crude oil price seen on 19 April.

“The same traders and buyers commented May looking to be a slow month. A buyer expects he may only be able to fulfil the lower end of his buying commitment.”

Simon Neo, Executive Director at marine fuels consultancy SDE International, notes current market conditions have resulted in prices of bunker fuel at Singapore port being lower when compared to the similar period a year before.

The total number of vessel arrivals at Singapore port was 7,015 in April 2020 (37.6% lower on year) while container and cargo throughput both respectively fell 5% and 12.6% on year, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) data.

“The drop in the number of vessel arrivals, container and cargo throughput clearly shows trade volume to be down,” said Neo.

“However, the increase in bunker volume is more due to the fact that oil prices are very low now. This generates more buying interest as nobody knows when for sure, how long this low oil price will last.

“Instead of topping up 500 or 600 mt, ship owners may now be incentivised take up to 1,000 mt or 1,500 mt.

“The other factor of what Dennis said is quite true, as a lot of ship owners have entered into pre-signed contracts before IMO 2020 due to worries about the availability and quality of VLSFO around the region.

“Singapore is the premier bunkering port which is very well regulated, and supported by a highly respected bunkering standard backed by the use of mass flowmeters for the custody transfer of marine fuel.

“This encourages more ship owners to take up products in Singapore as there is accountability involved and they will all know who to approach if anything goes wrong.”

Singapore’s bunker fuel sales volume was release by MPA on Wednesday (13 May).

A total 4.11 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact: 4,113,700 mt) of bunkers was sold at the port in April, 10.8% more than 3.71 million mt (exact: 3,712,100 mt) posted during April 2019.

Deliveries of 500 centistokes (cSt), 380 cSt and 180 cSt grades in April 2020 (against on year), were respectively 78,400 mt (-88.7% from 691,900 mt), 692,800 mt (-73.5% from 2.61 million mt), while 180 cSt product recorded no sales (-100% from 24,000 mt).

Low sulphur 500 cSt, 380 cSt and 180 cSt products respectively recorded no sales (similarly compared to zero sales in 2019), 2.15 million mt (significantly up from 16,400 mt), and 111,100 mt (+194.7% from 37,700 mt).

The latest data introduced new categories, namely low sulphur 100 cSt, and ULSFO respectively recorded 597,800 mt and 66,700 mt of sales in April.

Low sulphur marine gas oil (LS MGO) sales were posted at 372,600 mt (+89.5% from 196,600 mt) and MGO at 48,400 mt (-31.9% from 71,100 mt).

Related: Singapore: March 2020 bunker fuel sales rise 5.7% on year
Related: Singapore: February 2020 bunker sales volume up 2.5% on year
Related: Singapore: January 2020 bunker sales volume up 7.5% on year

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 14 May, 2020

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Legal

Shell Singapore charged over Pulau Bukom oil leaks, reporting delays

Shell faces four charges under Singapore’s Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act over two 2024 oil discharge incidents at its Pulau Bukom facility.
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September 25, 2026

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2 MPA craft (left) supporting Shell craft in the clean up operations of the oil sheens taken on 28 Dec 9am

Shell Singapore has been charged over two incidents in 2024 involving oily mixtures discharged into Singapore waters from its facilities at Pulau Bukom, according to media reports on Tuesday (22 September). 

The company faces four charges under the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act, including allegations that it failed to report the discharges to the port master immediately. 

The first incident occurred on 20 October 2024, when approximately 40 metric tonnes (mt) of oily mixture was discharged through a hole in a pipeline at the Shell Singapore Energy and Chemicals Park at about 8am.

Shell is accused of reporting the incident to the port master at about 12.55pm, several hours after the discharge occurred. 

The second incident took place between 26 and 28 December 2024. An estimated 485kg to 956kg of oil mixture was discharged into Singapore waters from the same facility.

Shell is accused of failing to report the incident immediately, with notification to the port master made at about 11.50am on 26 December 2024, according to the charges.

Singapore’s pollution-prevention regulations require occupiers of such facilities to report oil or oily-mixture discharges into Singapore waters “without delay and to the fullest extent possible”.

Shell’s representative requested an eight-week adjournment at the 22 September hearing, citing the need to obtain internal instructions, appoint counsel and locate historical records. The company said the business associated with the incidents had been divested in 2025.

The case was adjourned to October. Shell is also facing prosecution by Singapore’s National Environment Agency over the same incidents.

Related: Shell reports up to 40 mt of slop leaked from pipeline into Singapore waters
Related: Singapore: No new oil sightings after recent pipeline leak and bunkering incidents
Related: Singapore: Clean-up of oil from Shell pipeline leak to be completed in days
Related: Singapore: Oil leak at Pulau Bukom stopped; cleanup of oil sheens completed

 

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 25 September, 2026

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Incident

MPA probes Singapore Strait collision involving fishing vessel, bulk carrier

MPA says there were no reported injuries among the crew of either vessel in the incident involving China-registered fishing vessel “Lu Qing Yuan Yu” and Panama-registered bulk carrier “First Margaux” .

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September 25, 2026

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Panama-registered bulk carrier “First Margaux”

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Tuesday (22 September) said it is investigating the incident involving the China-registered fishing vessel Lu Qing Yuan Yu and the Panama-registered bulk carrier First Margaux in the Singapore Strait on 17 September.

MPA said there were no reported injuries among the crew of either vessel or pollution arising from the incident and navigational traffic was not affected.

Videos circulating on social media showed the bulk carrier colliding with the fishing vessel.  

“The fishing vessel took on water during the incident but remained afloat and stable, with the crew taking measures to manage the situation onboard,” MPA said. 

The vessel was subsequently towed to Raffles Reserved Anchorage for assessment. 

Essential crew remained onboard to support the tow, while the Singapore Civil Defence Force supported the transfer of other crew to shore. 

MPA added it also issued navigational safety broadcasts to keep other vessels clear of the tow and escorted the vessel into port with a MPA craft.

 

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Arnold Pohen
Published: 25 September, 2026

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Mass Flowmeter

TFG Marine deploys first MFM-equipped bunker barge in Jamaica

Bunker barge “Kingston Trader” is currently on its way to Jamaica following the successful installation of a Coriolis mass flow meter (MFM) system, certified to ISO 22192.
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September 25, 2026

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TFG Marine deploys first MFM-equipped bunker barge in Jamaica

Global marine fuel supply and procurement firm TFG Marine on Thursday (24 September) said its bunker barge Kingston Trader is currently on its way to Jamaica following the successful installation of a Coriolis mass flow meter (MFM) system, certified to ISO 22192.

The company said the latest installation brings the proportion of TFG Marine’s fleet equipped with MFMs to approximately 88%, marking another step in the continued rollout of this technology across its global bunkering operations.

“The barge will operate in Jamaica through our local partnership with Scott Petroleum, becoming the first bunkering vessel in the region equipped with this technology and bringing greater accuracy, transparency and assurance to fuel measurement for customers across the Caribbean,” TFG Marine said in a social media post. 

“Together with Scott Petroleum, we look forward to working collaboratively with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, the The Port Authority of Jamaica, Petrojam Limited and other stakeholders to share our experience of MFM technology, explore its wider benefits and support the continued development of bunkering standards across the region.” 

Manifold Times previously reported TFG Marine continuing to expand MFM technology across its US Gulf Coast bunker fleet with Buffalo B414 and Buffalo B304 being fitted with the equipment. 

Last year, TFG Marine announced it reached a key milestone in its global digitalisation programme with the installation of an ISO 22192-compliant MFM on the Buffalo 404, a barge on time charter from American bunker barge company Buffalo Marine Service Inc.

The installation was part of TFG Marine’s wider strategy to equip close to 90% of its global bunkering fleet with MFMs by 2026 as a commitment towards improving data integrity, streamlining operations and strengthening trust in marine fuel transactions.

Related: TFG Marine advances global MFM rollout with two US Gulf bunker barges
Related: TFG Marine installs first ISO-certified mass flow meter on US Gulf bunkering barge

 

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 25 September, 2026

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