Djibouti VLSFO back on prompt dates as East and West Africa ports stay tight

VLSFO can be ordered again in Djibouti after a pause, according to ENGINE. A local source said both VLSFO and LSMGO are now offered for prompt dates at the country's ports and the Inner Anchorage. The reason for the earlier halt was not disclosed.

The picture elsewhere in Africa is less comfortable. ENGINE's latest outlook describes availability as very tight in Dakar and in Port Louis, where buyers are told to book 10-14 days ahead. Lome and Walvis Bay both need around 5-7 days of notice for VLSFO and LSMGO, and the same applies to most stems at Nacala and Maputo. Durban and Cape Town are asking for 10-15 days, and VLSFO in the Lagos anchorage needs 10-12 days.

What this means for a buyer:

• Vessels on the Red Sea route can treat Djibouti as a prompt fallback for VLSFO again.
• For Port Louis and South Africa, fix the stem as soon as the ETA firms up rather than waiting for the last few days.
• In West Africa, check grade availability early, as VLSFO remains unavailable in Luanda and tight in several other ports.