ENGINE: Europe and Africa Fuel Availability Outlook in International Shipping News 04/06/2026 Northwest Europe VLSFO and HSFO availability remains tight in the ARA bunkering hub, with buyers recommended longer lead times of around 10 days to get competitive offers from a wide selection of suppliers, a trader told ENGINE. LSMGO is available more readily and needs a shorter notice of around 5-6 days, the trader added. The disruption in Hormuz has tightened availability of blending components in the ARA, which has affected the ability to produce on-spec fuels consistently, Peninsula said last week. This has complicated prompt availability of bunker fuel in the area. Separately, the ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks averaged 17% lower in May than in April, according to Insights Global data. Fuel oil stocks have fallen to levels not seen in more than a decade. The fuel oil stock average in May was 44% less than in February, which was the month before the war started in the Middle East. The ARA hub has imported 279,000 b/d of fuel oil in May, rising from April’s 207,000 b/d, according to data from cargo tracker Vortexa. Most of May’s supplies has arrived from Caribbean Netherlands (16%), Benin (12%) and Nigeria (11%). The region’s independent gasoil inventories – which include diesel and heating oil – have averaged 6% lower this month than in April. Gasoil inventories have fallen to their lowest in nearly two and a half years. The ARA hub imported 204,000 b/d of gasoil in May, up significantly from 143,000 b/d in April, Vortexa data showed. Around 48% of May’s shipments has come from the U.S., while Saudi Arabia (13%) and the U.K. (8%) were some of the other major contributors. In Germany’s Hamburg, buyers are requested to book stems with around five days of notice, a trader told ENGINE. Fuel availability is stable off Denmark’s Skaw and in Sweden’s Gothenburg, but buyers are recommended to book around 10 days in advance to arrange deliveries of any fuel grade, acc