Limitation of sulfur content in fuel has no influence on the size of Saint Petersburg bunker market

Limitation of sulfur content in fuel has not influenced the size of Saint Petersburg bunker fuel market, Dmirty Ivanov, head of bunker department of Nevsky Mazut company (Saint Petersburg), told the reporter of PortNews IAA at the III Annual International Forum of Fuel Trade and Bunkering arranged by Vostock Capital. Today, 40% of market operates with low-sulfur heavy fuel oil (less than 1.5%). According to Ivanov's estimations, from May 2006,when Marpol Annex No6 regulating sulfur content in marine fuel came into force in the Baltic Sea, till October 2006, sale of heavy fuel oil in the port of Saint Petersburg totaled 771.4 thou tons. Sale of low-sulfur fuel totaled 310.7 thou tons. Only leading bunker companies of Saint Petersburg managed to respond to such a challenge. Three largest companies control 36% of heavy fuel oil market and 60% of low-sulfur heavy fuel oil market, Ivanov says. According to Ivanav, the leaders are BBC, LUKOIL-Neva and Nevsky Mazut.