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The port of Singapore has surpassed the milestone bunker sales figure of 50 million tonnes for the first time during a 12-month period after reaching 50,074,800 tonnes between October 2016 and September 2017.

The historic tally was attained after sales of 4,341,000 tonnes were recorded in September. Year-on-year (YoY), monthly sales were up 510,000 tonnes, or 13.3 percent, while in a month-on-month (MoM) comparison with August, bunker volumes delivered dipped 22,600 tonnes, or 0.5 percent.

The sales figure was the best ever for the month of September - smashing the previous record of 3,847,600 tonnes (set in 2015) by 493,500 tonnes - just shy of half a million tonnes.

Furthermore, another record was achieved between July and September, with the port selling more than 13 million tonnes (13,098,300 tonnes) over a three-month period for the first time.

Accumulated sales for the first nine months of 2017, meanwhile, were 38,019,000 tonnes - a YoY increase of 1,460,900 tonnes, or 4.0 percent.

With fuel grades 380 centistoke (cSt) and 500 cSt achieving sales of 3,216,100 tonnes and 879,100 tonnes respectively, they both posted record peaks for September.

In comparison with last year, 380 cSt sales were up 465,500 tonnes, or 16.5 percent; MoM, 380 volumes fell 18,300 tonnes, or 0.6 percent.

For 500 cSt, sales increased YoY by 30,400 tonnes, or 3.6 percent, whilst volumes declined by 13,100 tonnes, or 1.5 percent, compared to the previous month.

Low-sulphur marine gas oil (LSMGO) also recorded its best ever September figure and a YoY increase with sales of 109,800 tonnes - a rise of 13,700 tonnes, or 14.3 percent. Compared to the previous month, the result was up 200 tonnes, or 0.2 percent.

Vessel arrivals and bunker calls

According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the number of ships greater than 75 gross tonnes (gt) calling at Singapore for bunkers in September was 3,299 - a fall of 25, or 0.8 percent, compared to last year.

So far in 2017, every month has recorded a decline in the number of bunker calls compared to last year.

In comparison with the previous month, the number of bunker calls was also down - by 35.

The total number of vessels greater than 75 gt arriving in Singapore increased YoY by 180, or 1.6 percent, to 11,617 in September. MoM, vessel arrivals were down 298, or 2.5 percent.