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The port of Singapore recorded the best April bunker sales figure in its history last month, according to preliminary estimates released by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

The Southeast Asian port sold 4,253,300 tonnes in April - beating the previous record of 4,109,700 tonnes (in April 2016) by 143,600 tonnes, or 3.5 percent.

In comparison with the previous month, total sales at the world's leading bunker port fell by 88,600 tonnes, or 2.0 percent, from 4,341,900 tonnes.

Overall bunker sales between January and April were 16,903,800 tonnes, which represents an increase of 969,800 tonnes, or 7.0 percent, compared to the same period in 2016 (15,934,000 tonnes). It is the highest figure ever recorded for the first four months of the year.

If at least the same amount were to be sold during the next two-thirds of the year, then Singapore would surpass 50 million tonnes during a calendar year for the first time.

Singapore also recorded its best ever April result for 380 centistoke (cSt) - the port's best-selling bunker grade - with sales of 3,185,100 tonnes. In comparison with last year, the figure was higher by 116,300 tonnes, or 3.8 percent. Month-on-month, 380 cSt sales were down 84,800 tonnes, or 2.6 percent.

Deliveries of 500 cSt were by far the highest in the port's history for the month of April - surpassing last year's previous best figure by 125,400 tonnes, or 16.7 percent, with sales of 876,600 tonnes. Month-on-month, sales rose by 34,900 tonnes, or 4.1 percent.

Year-on-year sales of low-sulphur marine gas oil (LSMGO) fell for the first month since September 2014 in April - 101,900 tonnes were sold last month compared to 127,600 tonnes in April 2016, representing a decrease of 20.1 percent. In a month-on-month comparison, sales of LSMGO were down 12,400 tonnes, or 10.8 percent.

Vessel arrivals and bunker calls

The number of vessels arriving in Singapore increased by 730, or 6.3 percent, to 12,260 in April, year-on-year.

According to the MPA, 3,495 ships called at the port for bunkers compared to 3,641 last year - a fall of 146, or 4.0 percent.

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