ENGINE: Global Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook in International Shipping News 01/01/2026 East of Suez Despite sluggish bunker demand, suppliers in Singapore are recommending lead times of about 4–6 days for VLSFO. LSMGO availability remains comfortable, with shorter lead times of around three days advised, while HSFO supply is tight and requires much longer advance notice of 9–10 days. In Port Klang, VLSFO and LSMGO remain readily available, especially for smaller prompt stems, while HSFO availability continues to be limited. In Zhoushan, suppliers are advising lead times of 4–7 days for small parcels across all grades. Larger stems above 1,500 mt need slightly longer windows of 6–10 days. By comparison, last week VLSFO and LSMGO required 4–6 days, while HSFO needed 5–7 days. Across Taiwan, suppliers in Keelung and Hualien can typically deliver VLSFO and LSMGO within two days, unchanged from last week. Taichung and Kaohsiung require slightly longer lead times of around three days. Notably, 1 January 2026 is a holiday in Taiwan, meaning no bunker orders can be placed, though deliveries will proceed as usual, according to state-owned CPC Corporation. Bunker availability is good across all grades in South Korea, where suppliers are recommending lead times of 4–6 days. However, winter weather could cause disruptions: Busan, Ulsan and Daesan may face disruptions from 31 December to 5 January, while bunker operations at Yeosu could be affected from 1–5 January. In Japan, availability of all grades is extremely tight because of low inventories and widespread barge congestion. Affected ports include Tokyo, Chiba, Kawasaki, Yokohama, Osaka, Kobe, Nagoya, Yokkaichi, Mizushima and Tokuyama, a trader said. For deliveries in early January, suppliers are expected to offer stems in Tokyo Bay around 9–10 January, while congestion at other ports is likely to persist until mid-January. Rough weather is forecast in Colombo from 4–5 January, which could disrupt bunker deliveries. In Fujairah, prompt bunker supply remains tight across all grades, with several suppliers facing constrained delivery schedules. Similar conditions persist in the nearby Khor Fakkan port. Adverse weather conditions could further impact operations at both ports. Bunker supply in Oman’s ports – Sohar, Salalah, Muscat and Duqm – remains stable, with suppliers consistently offering prompt LSMGO deliveries. However, adverse weather is forecast in Sohar and Salalah on Wednesday, which could affect operations. Europe and Africa Fuel availability in the ARA hub remains tight for prompt deliveries, with buyers advised to enquire around 5-7 days in advance for all fuel grades to secure competitive offers from a wider range of suppliers, a trader told ENGINE. From 1 January 2026, suppliers in Dutch ports will be covered under the country’s new domestic regulations that implement EU’s RED III rules. This is expected to increase bunker costs as suppliers pass on related compliance expenses. Separately, the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp will require all bunker deliveries to be made by certified mass flow meter (MFM)-equipped barges from 1 January 2026. Prompt bunker deliveries are also tight in the Gibraltar Strait, where a minimum lead time of around one week is recommended, the trader added. Congestion in Gibraltar has eased slightly, with around nine vessels waiting for bunkers at the port on Wednesday morning, down from 15 vessels on Tuesday. Suppliers are working to clear the backlog, bu