ENGINE: Americas Fuel Availability Outlook

International Shipping News, 21/08/2026

North America

Bunker fuel demand in Houston has remained steady since last week. Prompt availability of HSFO at the port is tight, with lead times of around 7–8 days. HSFO is largely consumed by ships fitted with exhaust gas cleaning systems, or scrubbers, while VLSFO and LSMGO serve the wider fleet under the IMO's 0.5% global sulphur cap in force since 2020, making lead times a key planning input for operators scheduling stems around port calls. At least two suppliers have confirmed they are currently offering only VLSFO and LSMGO, with lead times of between 5–6 days for both grades.

In the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA), bunkering operations are underway on a first-come, first-served basis. However, weather is likely to turn rough by the end of the week, which could create disruptions through 25 August, a source said. Availability at GOLA is okay, with suppliers able to offer HSFO and LSMGO on lead times of 3–4 days, while VLSFO can be delivered in around 5–6 days. Weather in the Gulf of Mexico is a recurring factor for offshore operations such as GOLA's.

The Atlantic hurricane season is currently underway, running officially from 1 June to 30 November with activity typically peaking between late August and October, and the National Hurricane Center has issued advisories for Hurricane Lala in the eastern Pacific.

As part of the US push to explore nuclear-powered shipping, the Port of Corpus Christi this week signed agreements with MARAD — the US Maritime Administration — and CORE POWER, a UK-based developer of advanced nuclear technology for maritime applications, to assess nuclear technology for port infrastructure and vessel propulsion. Nuclear propulsion has attracted growing attention in shipping as the industry explores zero-emission alternatives to conventional marine fuels.

In New York, demand has remained steady for both HSFO and LSMGO this week. Recommended lead times for HSFO and VLSFO are between 5–7 days, while LSMGO has better availability and can be supplied within 2–3 days. LSMGO is the grade ships rely on within the North American Emission Control Area, which extends roughly 200 nautical miles off the US and Canadian coasts and caps fuel sulphur content at 0.1%. Weather conditions at the port are normal, with winds blowing between 5–10 knots and waves rising up to 1–2 feet.

On the US West Coast, Los Angeles and Long Beach report normal availability across all three grades, with lead times of 6–8 days.

In Vancouver, Canada, HSFO is available for delivery from 27–28 August. VLSFO and LSMGO are also available at the port, with lead times of 4–8 days depending on stem size, a trader said.

Latin America and the Caribbean

In Panama, bunker demand has dropped compared with the past few weeks, a trader said. Panama ranks among the largest bunker markets in the Americas, with Balboa and Cristobal serving vessels on the Pacific and Atlantic sides of the Panama Canal respectively. On the supply side, Balboa and Cristobal report steady availability, with all three fuel grades — HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO — requiring 5–7 days of lead time.

In Colombia, VLSFO and LSMGO are widely available across Cartagena, Santa Marta and Barranquilla, with earliest delivery dates of 3–4 days. HSFO is not regularly available at Colombian ports, although it can be supplied periodically at ports such as Buenaventura and Cartagena.

In Brazil, the port of Santos is congested. VLSFO is available but tight, while LSMGO has normal availability, with recommended lead times of around 6–7 days. At Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Itaqui, Belém and Vila do Conde, availability for both VLSFO and LSMGO is okay, with delivery possible on 3–4 days of lead time. At OPL Sepetiba, both grades are available with earliest delivery dates around 27–29 August, and in Salvador grades can be supplied within 5–8 days. In Paranagua, availability has improved for both VLSFO and LSMGO, with suppliers recommending lead times of under a week to seven days.

In Argentina, the bunker market has seen a dip in demand this week, according to a local bunker trader. At the Zona Comun anchorage — an open-sea bunkering spot off Buenos Aires where vessels can take on fuel without entering port — VLSFO and LSMGO are available via barges, with lead times of 6–7 days. Five barges are currently in operation, according to a source. Operations remain normal, although there may be a few interruptions; these are mostly short-lived, the source added.

Source: By Gautamee Hazarika, ENGINE