Durban and Cape Town fuel tight, buyers told to book 10-15 days ahead

Fuel is hard to secure at short notice in both of South Africa's main bunkering ports. A trader quoted by ENGINE on 23 October said buyers at Durban and Cape Town should allow between 10 and 15 days to lock in a delivery.

Weather adds another risk. Forecasts for Durban point to south-westerly gusts above 25 knots and swells over 2 metres on Sunday, which could interrupt some operations around the port. A stem planned for the weekend may slip, and the queue behind it can grow.

Prices at Durban have moved in opposite directions for the two main fuel oil grades. VLSFO has fallen over the past two weeks, while HSFO has climbed, so the gap between them has narrowed sharply. That means ships with scrubbers save less than they did earlier in the month by burning HSFO. Even after the drop, Durban VLSFO still costs more than at Cape Town and Port Louis.

For a buyer the practical points are simple:

• Send enquiries for Durban or Cape Town at least two weeks before arrival.
• Build a weather buffer into any Durban stem around Sunday.
• Compare Cape Town and Port Louis if the route allows, since both are pricing below Durban for VLSFO.