Sign up
Log in Sign up
Tue 28 Feb 2012 13:41

Istanbul bunker sales up 12.5%, says chairman


Sales of marine fuel are said to have risen by 200,000 tonnes at Turkey's leading bunker port in 2011.

Mustafa Muhtaroglu, chairman of Istanbul-based physical bunker supplier Energy Petrol Shipping Trade Industry Inc., has today informed Bunker Index that Istanbul sold 1.8 million tonnes of marine fuel last year, up 200,000 tonnes, or 12.5 percent, on the 1.6 million tonnes it sold in 2010.

The latest data from Energy Petrol follows the company's recent announcement earlier this month that it had also recorded a 12 percent rise in volume sold to 234,000 metric tonnes in 2011, with sales turnover increasing by 47 percent to USD 172 million.

Commenting on the port figures, Muhtaroglu said the data confirmed Istanbul's position as the "best and leading supply port in the area".

"We provide good quality, fast and efficient bunkering - that's why people choose Istanbul," said Muhtaroglu. "I learnt something else: that people go to safe and reliable places in times of crisis and that Istanbul maintains a strong position in the area as a safe and reliable port in a stable country."

"I believe general economic and social status and crises in countries affect the bunkering sector as well. Turkey is a rising star among world economies and the total volume of cargoes handled in Turkey increased in 2011 with a stable number of ships calling at Turkish ports, helping bunker volumes to increase," commented Muhtaroglu.

"Turkey aims to be a maritime nation," said Muhtaroglu. "We support this general aim of increasing bunker activities and serving more vessels in Turkey, which also offers advantages to Turkish ship owners with competitive bunkering at home ports."

Commenting on his recent trip to London for IP Week, Muhtaroglu said: "In London, I talked to suppliers at competing ports such as Piraeus and Suez - both said that volume was dramatically down in 2011. Suez said by some 50 percent and Piraeus suppliers estimated a decrease of around 25 percent for volume supplied in 2011, which seems to be related to the general economic and social issues in such countries."

As regards the Istanbul market, Muhtaroglu said that of the eight physical suppliers in Istanbul, five had a total market share of approximately 85 percent.

Tallink’s MyStar vessel. Tallink targets full bio-LNG transition for Baltic shuttle vessels within a year  

Estonian ferry operator aims to replace all fossil LNG with renewable fuel on the Helsinki-Tallinn route.
Grimaldi's Grande Melbourne vessel. Grimaldi takes delivery of third ammonia-ready car carrier from Chinese shipyard  

Grande Melbourne is the third of seven vessels ordered from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding for Asia-Europe service.
BPCL and Cochin Port sign MoU. BPCL and Cochin Port sign MoU for LNG bunkering facilities  

Indian oil company and port authority agree to develop LNG refuelling infrastructure for vessels.
ClassNK Guidelines front cover. ClassNK publishes world-first guidelines for membrane-based onboard CO2 capture systems  

Classification society expands guidelines to cover membrane separation method for capturing ship exhaust emissions.
April Tan, Flex Commodities. Flex Commodities hires April Tan as lead trader for China  

Dubai-based marine fuels trader appoints experienced professional to Singapore office to drive regional expansion.
Contract signing ceremony. Yang Ming finalizes contracts for six methanol dual-fuel-ready boxships  

Taiwanese carrier signs deals with Japanese shipbuilders for vessels scheduled for delivery from 2028.
China’s Da Qing 268 vessel. China's first newbuild dual-fuel methanol bunkering vessel launched in Zhoushan  

Da Qing 268 can supply methanol and conventional fuels to ships at anchorage.
Graphic announcing Standard Fuel Oils FT recognition. Standard Fuel Oils recognized in Financial Times Europe's Long-Term Growth Champions  

Liverpool-based fuel supplier included in ranking of 300 European companies with sustained revenue growth.
Naming ceremony of Wilhelmshaven Express. Hapag-Lloyd completes newbuild programme with delivery of dual-fuel vessel  

German carrier christens Wilhelmshaven Express, marking completion of 12-vessel Hamburg Express class series.
Adani Ports and BPCL sign MoU. MoU signed to develop LNG bunkering facility at Vizhinjam  

Partnership aims to establish LNG refuelling hub for international vessels at Kerala.




 Recommended