Zhoushan bunkering restarts at all anchorages after eight-day typhoon halt

Bunkering at the Zhoushan outer anchorages restarted on 28 October, ENGINE reports. Rough weather from Typhoon Champi had kept them shut for eight days. The sheltered Xiushandong anchorage and the Mazhi inner anchorage, closed for six days, also reopened, so the whole hub is working again.

The restart does not mean supply is easy. In its 27 October outlook, ENGINE said several Zhoushan suppliers still report low inventories and fewer imports, so VLSFO and HSFO stay tight even with weak demand. Quoted VLSFO lead times fell to about eight days from 12 a week earlier. HSFO held at about 12 days, and LSMGO improved to around four days.

Other Chinese ports are mixed. Tianjin is short of all three main grades, Shanghai has limited VLSFO and HSFO, and Qingdao is tight on HSFO. Fuzhou, Xiamen, Yangpu and Guangzhou report shortages of VLSFO and LSMGO.

For buyers, the first days after a long halt usually bring a queue of postponed deliveries. If a vessel is due at Zhoushan in the next two weeks, send the enquiry now, confirm the delivery window in writing and keep a backup port in mind for HSFO.