---

Bunker sales in Singapore dropped to below 3 million tonnes last month for the first time since February according to the latest monthly figures released by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

Following the same pattern as last year, volumes sold in May dipped in comparison to the previous month. Sales in the world's largest bunker port fell to 2,919,000 tonnes during the month of May, 128,000 tonnes lower than sales figures recorded for the previous month.

Significantly however, May 2008 sales were higher than those recorded the year before, rising by 415,000 tonnes. With higher sales in every month so far compared to 2007, Singapore continues to be on course to surpass the previous annual record of 31,546,000 tonnes set last year.

Last month only 500-centistoke and marine diesel oil (MDO) showed a sales volume increase compared to April with 380-centistoke (cst), 180-centistoke and marine gasoil (MGO) all recording lower month-on-month sales.

In a comparison with volumes sold in the same month last year, only sales of 380-centistoke and 500-centistoke were higher in May 2008, whilst 180-centistoke, MDO and MGO all showed a decrease in sales. Similar results for these three grades have also been recorded in previous months in 2008. In contrast, sales of 380-centistoke have been higher every month so far this year compared to 2007. A total of 2,157,000 tonnes were sold last month, 400,200 tonnes higher than in May 2007.

Sales of 500-centistoke rose by 51,900 in May 2008 compared to the same month last year. Volumes sold in January, March and April were also higher than in 2007.

Below is a table of bunker sales in Singapore for 2008 with accumulated totals in the bottom row.

2008	Total	500cst	380cst	180cst	MGO
Jan	2,802.2	351.6	2,048.8	239.6	127.0
Feb	2,734.0	296.5	2,014.4	263.8	127.2
March	3,045.3	361.4	2,275.7	235.4	137.0
April	3,047.0	355.5	2,286.6	246.6	125.3
May	2,919.0	391.3	2,157.2	207.3	116.2
Total	14,547.5	1,756.30	10,782.70	1,192.70	632.70