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Bunker sales in Singapore reached their highest level so far this year during the month of August, according to preliminary estimates released by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

Total sales of marine fuel at the world's leading bunker port rose by 120,800 tonnes to 3,151,700 tonnes last month compared to 3,030,900 in July.

The figure was also 225,900 tonnes higher than in August 2007 - where the monthly total reached an annual peak of 2,925,800 tonnes - and is the highest to be recorded this year after surpassing the 3,047,00-tonne figure recorded in April.

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. Accumulated sales for the year so far have now already reached 23,540,500 tonnes.

Sales of 380-centistoke (cst) - Singapore's largest-selling bunker grade - reached their highest level so far this year at 2,372,500 tonnes. The figure was 85,900 tonnes higher than the year's second-highest monthly sales volumes recorded in April and exceeded last month's figure by 95,100 tonnes. Significantly, last month's preliminary estimates are also 313,600 tonnes higher than those recorded in August 2007.

Meanwhile sales of 500-cst - the second-best selling product in Singapore - also increased last month compared to July. During the month of August, 376,400 tonnes of 500-cst were sold, up 11,900 tonnes on June 2008 but 12,400 tonnes lower than in August 2007. The figure is the second-highest to be recorded so far this year.

Marine gas oil (MGO) sales also reached their second-highest level in 2008 at 134,200 tonnes. Volumes sold were 4,500 tonnes more than in the previous month, but 2,000 tonnes less than total sales achieved in August 2007.

Sales of 180-cst showed a noticeable improvement last month compared to July, when the year's second-lowest sales figures were recorded. In August, sales rose by 28,700 tonnes to 238,700 tonnes but the figure was significantly lower than the 308,400-tonne sales volume achieved during the same month last year.

Availability of this product has been particularly tight over the past few weeks with a number of suppliers running out of stock and being unable to quote.

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
June	2,810.4	354.8	2,075.2	235.1	108.4
July	3,030.9	364.5	2,277.4	210.7	129.7
August	3,151.7	376.4	2,372.5	238.7	134.2
Total	23,540,50	2,852.50	17,507.80	1,877.20	1,005.00