Singapore bunker sales dip in August
The volume of marine fuel sold in the port of Singapore during the month of August was 3,556,000 metric tonnes (mt), a drop of 2.71% on July's 3,655,200 mt, according to data from Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Ship & Bunker reports.
It was the second lowest monthly volume for the year after February's 3.093 million mt, and the second smallest change in monthly volumes after the marginal gain of 0.23% last month.
Despite the slight fall in August volumes, the world's largest bunkering port by volume remains on track to make 2012 its best year on record.
The year to date average monthly volume now stands at 3.619 million mt making the 12 month projection 43.424 million mt, slightly above 2011's total volume for all products of 43.153 million mt, which is also the port's the current record.
Key grade IFO380 took the lions share of the sales as usual and made a month-on-month drop of 5.73% to 2,757 million mt while MGO rallied form last months drop to rise 4.71% to 120,100 metric tonnes.
Volumes of 500 cSt product gained after falling for two consecutive months to rise 12.83% in August to 568,100 mt, the second highest volume since at least January 2011 after the 591,500 sold in May.
The fall in volume was accompanied by a fall in vessel arrivals, down to 10,825 from 11,099 in July, with bunker only calls dropping 1.27% to 3111 from 3151 the previous month.