Mon 16 Mar 2009, 08:16 GMT

Singapore bunker sales fall by 11.6 percent


February volumes drop to levels below those recorded during the whole of 2008.



Bunker sales in Singapore fell by 349,700 tonnes in February 2009 compared to to the previous month, 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 dropped to 2,670,000 tonnes last month from 3,019,700 tonnes in January, a decrease of 11.6 percent.

The figure was also 64,000 tonnes lower than in February 2008, when the monthly total reached 2,734,000 tonnes, and, significantly was less than every monthly total recorded last year.

Sales of 380-centistoke (cst) - Singapore's largest-selling bunker grade - fell by 207,200 tonnes last month compared to January 2009, reaching 2,123,900 tonnes. In a comparison with February 2008, sales volumes were 109,500 tonnes higher.

Meanwhile sales of 500-cst - the second-best selling product in Singapore - decreased significantly in February 2009 compared to the previous month. Volumes sold were 213,900 tonnes versus 325,800 tonnes in January, a fall of 111,900 tonnes, or 34.3 percent. The figure was also lower than in February 2008, when 296,500 tonnes were sold.

Distillate sales were also lower in February 2009. Marine gas oil (MGO) volumes fell by 5,500 tonnes compared to January and by 400 tonnes in a comparison with February 2008. Sales of Marine diesel oil (MDO) dropped by 500 tonnes to 1,100 tonnes last month compared to January.

Following last month's decrease to levels below those recorded during the whole of 2008, 180-cst sales rose by just 5,200 tonnes to 186,700 tonnes in February 2009, but the figure was still lower than 2008 levels.

Below is a table of bunker sales in Singapore for each fuel grade in 2009 and 2008.

2009 Total 500cst 380cst 180cst MGO
Jan 3,019.7 325.8 2331.1 181.5 132.3
Feb 2,670.0 213.9 2,123.9 186.7 126.8
Total 5,689.7 539.7 4,455.0 368.2 259.1


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
September 2,856.2 409.2 2,085.6 204.7 134.3
October 2,925.5 392.5 2,174.1 203.0 135.7
November 2,879.9 417.1 2,116.4 202.7 122.6
December 2,734.3 312.8 2,058.0 208.4 140.1
Total 34.936.4 4,383.6 25,941.9 2,696.0 1,537.7


Ammonia Energy Association (AEA) logo. AEA qualifies global roster of auditors for ammonia certification system  

Bureau Veritas, DNV, TÜV SÜD and three others cleared to verify low-emission ammonia credentials.

New York city skyline. IBIA early-bird registration deadline approaches for New York convention  

Discounted rates available for members and non-members up until the end of August.

MARAD and Core Power MOC signing. MARAD and Core Power sign cooperation framework to advance nuclear-powered merchant ships  

Agreement targets first construction from 2028 as China accelerates its own nuclear shipping ambitions.

DNV and GEA logos. GEA and DNV launch three-year ethanol data intelligence partnership  

Collaboration will integrate structured global ethanol production data into DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight platform.

VPS logo. Perfect storm at sea: High bunker prices meet declining fuel quality | Steve Bee, VPS  

VPS highlights sharp drop in fuel quality during 2026 amid higher prices.

Koper waterfront. SUPERALFUEL to hold first alternative marine fuels training course in Koper  

The Adriatic-Ionian initiative targets hydrogen, ammonia and methanol adoption in ports and shipping.

Steel-cutting ceremony of vessels with builder's hull nos. S1159 and S1160. CIMC SOE cuts steel on third and fourth 20,000-cbm LNG bunker vessels for GSX Energy  

Chinese shipbuilder advances series build as two hulls enter construction simultaneously.

Pennsylvania skyline. Sunoco seeks bunker trader in US to drive marine fuels growth  

New hire will be tasked with expanding Sunoco's bunker business in front-line commercial trading role.

Brooklyn Bridge and New York City skyline. Minerva Bunkering recruiting Americas sales manager as it targets regional growth  

New York-based manager is sought to build customer base across North and South America.

Marine battery container. AYK Energy to unveil swappable containerised marine battery system at SMM Hamburg  

The system claims to remove key cost and engineering barriers to marine electrification.