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Singapore recorded the best first-quarter (Q1) bunker sales volume in its history between January and March, according to data released by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

In Q1, the Asian port sold 12.91m tonnes of marine fuel, which was a year-on-year (YoY) increase of 259,300 tonnes, or 2.0 percent, on the previous best of 12.65m tonnes.

The figure was a dip on the 13.22m and 13.04m sold in November-January and December-February respectively, but was still Singapore's fourth-best three-month sales figure.

In terms of monthly volumes, the city-state recorded bunker sales of 4,168,300 tonnes in March, representing a month-on-month (MoM) rise of 32,400 tonnes, or 0.8 percent, but a YoY decrease of 173,600 tonnes, or 4.0 percent - the first since October.

380 centistoke (cSt) sales increased MoM by 187,200 tonnes, or 6.4 percent, to 3,103,200 tonnes. However, YoY, Singapore's best-selling fuel grade recorded a drop of 166,700 tonnes, or 5.1 percent.

For 500 cSt, Singapore posted bunker volumes of 826,400 tonnes, with sales decreasing both MoM (by 132,800 tonnes, or 13.8 percent) and YoY (by 15,300 tonnes, or 1.8 percent).

Sales of low-sulphur marine gas oil (LSMGO) in March rose YoY by 4,900 tonnes, or 4.3 percent, to 119,200 tonnes; but in comparison with February, the figure represented a drop of 8,400 tonnes, or 6.6 percent.

Vessel arrivals and bunker calls

According to the MPA, the number of ships greater than 75 gross tonnes (gt) calling at Singapore for bunkers in March was 3,414 - a YoY fall of 175, or 4.9 percent, and a MoM increase of 320, or 10.3 percent.

The total number of vessels greater than 75 gt arriving in Singapore increased YoY by 228, or 1.9 percent, to 12,546 in March. MoM, vessel arrivals were up 1,416, or 12.7 percent, following February's lowest figure in 12 months.