VPS, through its fuel quality testing service, witnessed a high number of elevated catfine (Aluminium + Silicon) levels in Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oils (VLSFO) across East Coast USA, Singapore, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Algeciras and Port Louis, between the 11th-31st August 2025. This resulted in the release of seven VPS Bunker Alerts covering that time period.

Cat-fine levels ranged from 62ppm to 176ppm across the globe.

The high cat-fine levels across the East Coast USA, mainly Boston and New York, came from fuel delivered by a single supplier, with levels ranging from 70ppm-176ppm. In Singapore, cat-fine levels ranged from 67ppm-156ppm, with fuel delivered from four suppliers.

Whilst in Algeciras, fuel from two suppliers ranged between 61ppm-92ppm. Three fuel suppliers in Rotterdam delivered fuel containing cat-fines between 61-78ppm and in Hamburg, two suppliers delivered fuel with cat-fine levels between 62ppm-66ppm.

Finally, Port Louis had three suppliers delivering fuel containing 63-65ppm cat-fines. Elevated amounts of these highly abrasive particles cause accelerated wear of diesel engine components, such as piston rings, cylinder liners and fuel pumps, if not reduced to acceptable levels.
Source: VPS