Tue 4 Nov 2014 12:03

October was the most volatile month since May 2012


Bunker price volatility analysis - October 2014.



Bunker price volatility rose to its highest level since May 2012, according to Bunker Index price data.

In a comparison of low-high differentials for the daily Bunker Index (BIX) global average, October recorded a low-high differential of $67.31 per tonne, up from $23.37 per tonne in September.

The lowest daily global bunker average last month was $674.79 per tonne, recorded on October 28, whilst the highest price was $742.10 per tonne on October 1.

It is the first time in 18 months (since April 2013) that bunker price volatility has been above $24. Prior to this, volatility had remained below $20 for 12 consecutive months (between September 2013 and August 2014) for the first time since Bunker Index began publishing global bunker price volatility data in April 2009. Only the months of September 2014 and August 2013 recorded volatility levels above $20 during this 18-month period.

Please find below a table showing the intra-month price volatility of global bunker prices between April 2009 and October 2014.

All prices are in USD per metric tonne.

Month Low-High
Differential ($)
Low ($) High ($)
Oct-14 67.31 674.79 742.10
Sep-14 23.37 743.66 767.03
Aug-14 13.34 764.24 777.58
Jul-14 18.55 778.02 796.57
Jun-14 13.19 786.93 800.12
May-14 8.27 784.14 792.41
Apr-14 8.91 785.71 794.62
Mar-14 12.44 789.12 801.56
Feb-14 14.81 785.49 800.30
Jan-14 11.58 783.85 795.43
Dec-13 8.45 789.78 798.23
Nov-13 15.08 775.38 790.46
Oct-13 9.51 785.64 795.15
Sep-13 14.96 793.20 808.16
Aug-13 23.09 785.94 809.03
Jul-13 14.21 782.20 796.41
Jun-13 18.16 778.58 796.74
May-13 12.86 780.06 792.92
Apr-13 42.34 774.36 816.70
Mar-13 15.79 809.89 825.68
Feb-13 25.25 828.23 853.48
Jan-13 25.00 809.78 834.78
Dec-12 14.55 798.03 812.58
Nov-12 12.00 804.14 816.14
Oct-12 22.74 821.23 843.97
Sep-12 28.02 839.28 867.30
Aug-12 51.96 800.77 852.73
Jul-12 44.77 761.50 806.27
Jun-12 50.40 753.89 804.29
May-12 76.59 813.74 890.33
Apr-12 17.47 882.87 900.34
Mar-12 14.36 893.30 907.66
Feb-12 43.57 850.51 894.08
Jan-12 32.87 825.20 858.07
Dec-11 26.07 804.06 830.13
Nov-11 30.28 819.92 850.20
Oct-11 42.17 790.04 832.21
Sep-11 32.43 801.43 833.86
Aug-11 42.42 806.42 848.84
Jul-11 34.77 812.66 847.43
Jun-11 44.72 798.53 843.25
May-11 56.39 803.55 859.94
Apr-11 44.61 814.95 859.56
Mar-11 37.1 771.53 808.63
Feb-11 77.51 695.08 772.59
Jan-11 40.05 648.23 688.28
Dec-10 32.11 617.5 649.61
Nov-10 30.47 599.97 630.44
Oct-10 15.38 590.42 605.80
Sep-10 18.18 563.2 581.38
Aug-10 37.4 560.59 597.99
Jul-10 22.55 556.51 579.06
Jun-10 23.46 563.73 587.19
May-10 67.83 558.16 625.99
Apr-10 33.33 574.65 607.98
Mar-10 14.79 557.88 572.67
Feb-10 33.25 530.62 563.87
Jan-10 41.68 545.45 587.13
Dec-09 31.84534.52 566.36
Nov-09 9.54 547.65 567.95
Oct-09 48.22501.05 552.51
Sep-09 32.15493.40525.55
Aug-09 24.11 509.70 533.81
Jul-09 45.03460.73 505.76
Jun-09 43.44457.87501.31
May-09 66.56383.18 449.74
Apr-09 19.81370.12389.93


Lease agreement between Inter Terminals Sweden and the Port of Gothenburg, signed on July 1st. Pictured: Göran Eriksson, CEO of the Port of Gothenburg (left) and Johan Zettergren, Managing Director of Inter Terminals Sweden (right). New Gothenburg lease an opportunity to expand green portfolio: Inter Terminals  

Bunker terminal operator eyes tank conversion and construction projects for renewable products.

Map of US Gulf. Peninsula extends US Gulf operation offshore  

Supplier to focus on Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) in strategy to serve growing client base.

The M/T Jutlandia Swan, operated by Uni-Tankers. Uni-Tankers vessel gets wind-assisted propulsion  

Fourth tanker sails with VentoFoil units as manufacturer says suction wing technology is gaining traction.

Port of Gothenburg Energy Port. Swedish biomethane bunkered in Gothenburg  

Test delivery performed by St1 and St1 Biokraft, who aim to become large-scale suppliers.

Image from Cockett Marine Oil presentation. Cockett to be closed down after 45 years  

End of an era as shareholders make decision based on 'non-core nature' of Cockett's business.

Petrobras logo. Petrobras confirms prompt availability of VLS B24 at Rio Grande  

Lead time for barge deliveries currently five days.

Opening of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), 83rd Session, April 7, 2025. IMO approves pricing mechanism based on GHG intensity thresholds  

Charges to be levied on ships that do not meet yearly GHG fuel intensity reduction targets.

Preemraff Göteborg, Preem's wholly owned refinery in Gothenburg, Sweden. VARO Energy expands renewable portfolio with Preem acquisition  

All-cash transaction expected to complete in the latter half of 2025.

Pictured: Biofuel is supplied to NYK Line's Noshiro Maru. The vessel tested biofuel for Tohoku Electric Power in a landmark first for Japan. NYK trials biofuel in milestone coal carrier test  

Vessel is used to test biofuel for domestic utility company.

Pictured (from left): H-Line Shipping CEO Seo Myungdeuk and HJSC CEO Yoo Sang-cheol at the contract signing ceremony for the construction of an 18,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel. H-Line Shipping orders LNG bunkering vessel  

Vessel with 18,000-cbm capacity to run on both LNG and MDO.


↑  Back to Top