Analyzing Bunker Price Trends In The World’s Four Largest Hubs

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In the 30th week, the MABUX global bunker indices continued their moderate downward trend. The 380 HSFO index fell by 11.25 USD: from 552.94 USD/MT last week to 541.69 USD/MT, breaking through the 550 USD mark. The VLSFO index decreased by 9.58 USD (643.10 USD/MT versus 652.58 USD/MT last week), falling below 650 USD. The MGO index declined by 12.29 USD (from 837.80 USD/MT last week to 825.51 USD/MT). The world bunker indices demonstrated a slight upward correction when writing, sources Port News. 

Price Difference 

MABUX Global Scrubber Spread (SS) – the price difference between 380 HSFO and VLSFO – returned to the phase of moderate growth: plus $1.67 ($101.41 versus $99.74 last week), breaking again the $100.00 mark (SS Breakeven). The weekly average also increased by $1.75. In Rotterdam, the SS Spread narrowed by $2.00 to $64.00 from $66.00 last week, while the weekly average, on the contrary, widened by $3.84. In Singapore, the 380 HSFO/VLSFO price differential rose by $4, from $101.00 last week to $105.00, remaining above the $100.00 mark. The port’s weekly average increased by $5.84. At the moment, there is no clear trend in the dynamics of the Global SS Spread and SS indices in ports, and the indicators change in different directions. We expect that a similar situation with SS Spread will continue next week. 

Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) markets are in a prolonged state of flux due to ongoing geopolitical tensions and conflicts. This instability has led to significant price volatility across global energy markets. Although LNG prices have recently declined, they remain extremely high—double the average price of the past five years—putting significant pressure on net importers of this fossil fuel. During week 30, the European gas benchmark TTF showed a moderate decline: minus 1.175 EUR/MWh (31.622 EUR/MWh versus 32.797 EUR/MWh last week.

The price of LNG as bunker fuel in the port of Sines (Portugal) showed an increase for the first time in the last four weeks, reaching 741 USD/MT on July 22 (plus 29 USD compared to the previous week). Meanwhile, the price difference between LNG and conventional fuel decreased to 75 USD in favor of LNG, down from 120 USD a week earlier. On July 22, MGO LS was quoted in the port of Sines at 816 USD/MT. More information is available in the LNG Bunkering section of www.mabux.com.

In Week 30, the MDI index (the correlation ratio of market bunker prices (MABUX MBP Index) vs. MABUX digital bunker benchmark (MABUX DBP Index)) indicated the following bunker price trends in the world’s four largest hubs: Rotterdam, Singapore, Fujairah and Houston:

In the 380 HSFO segment, all four ports remained undervalued, with weekly averages up 1 point in Rotterdam, 3 points in Singapore, and 4 points in Houston, but down 1 point in Fujairah.

Undercharge Zone 

In the VLSFO segment, all four ports were in the undercharge zone, with average weekly levels declining by 5 points in Rotterdam, 4 points in Singapore, and 4 points in Houston. The MDI index in Fujairah remained unchanged.

In the MGO LS segment, Houston was the only overvalued port, while the weekly average decreased by 15 points, staying close to the 100% correlation mark between market price and the MABUX digital benchmark. The three other ports remained undercharged. The weekly averages narrowed by 5 points in Rotterdam, 5 points in Singapore, and 16 points in Fujairah. MDI indices in Rotterdam and Singapore were close to the $100 mark.

Over the week, the balance of overvalued/undervalued ports did not change, still registering the only overvalued port in the MGO LS segment – Houston. In other ports, all types of bunker fuel remained undervalued.

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Source: Portnews