Africa bunker lead times stretch from Lome to Port Louis

Engine's latest Europe and Africa fuel availability note, dated 1 October, still paints a tight picture for buyers who need prompt stems. In the ARA hub, traders advise allowing about five to seven days for coverage. Fuel oil loading delays have also been reported. Independently held fuel oil stocks still averaged 15% higher in September than in August.

Along the African coast the pressure is sharper. Off Togo's Lome, VLSFO and LSMGO still need roughly a week's notice. Walvis Bay demand is steady, but prompt windows for those grades stay short at five to seven days. South Africa is tighter still. Durban is described as extremely constrained. Cape Town is expected to stay tight into early October. Across the main South African bunker ports, ten to fifteen days' notice is advised.

Further east, Port Louis remains very tight after strong demand, with booking windows of about ten to fourteen days. In Mozambique, Maputo VLSFO is very tight while LSMGO looks steadier. Nacala is nearer normal for VLSFO and LSMGO, with HSFO harder. For vessels calling these hubs, early stem requests matter more than chasing a last-minute lift.