Bunker prices are showing fluctuations as the maritime sector comes to terms with the new sulphur regulations, reducing sulphur in fuels to 0.5%, globally, except in emission control areas, where the sulphur limit is 0.1%.
Both the Northern European and North American regions showed increases of US$9.75 and US$7.00 per tonne respectively for 380 HFO Asia and Oceania saw a more modest increase of US$1.67. Southern Europe saw a decline of US$2 and South America and Africa and the Middle East the price of the fuel dropped US$1.50 and US$3.25. All regions saw no daily change in the 180 HSFO.
Blended fuels in the form of very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) had a patchier day with North America, Northern Europe and Asia and Oceania seeing increases of US$2.50, US$3.75 and US$1.67. While all other regions saw decreases in price of between US$7.00 to US$1.50.
Even though there was an erratic performance the overall effect was a closing of the spread between HFO and VLSFO, with HFO increasing US$1.66 and VLSFO declining by US$1.00.
Distillate fuels showed a minor decrease of US$0.61 globally, though Central America may have distorted these figures with a US$14.00 decline.
This is the first of our new daily bunker price index. From now on you can check the MABUX index on a daily basis on Container News.
