Sales of VLSFO and LSMGO increased at Panamanian ports, both on a total and daily average basis.

Changes in Panama bunker fuel sales from December to January:

• Total sales up 9,700 mt to 489,000 mt
• VLSFO sales up 33,000 mt to 329,000 mt
• LSMGO sales up 700 mt to 47,000 mt
• HSFO 380 sales down 28,000 mt to 104,000 mt
• 0.5% MGO sales up 3,500 mt to 9,000 mt

The increase in January sales followed a softer December, with VLSFO driving most of the month-on-month growth, according to preliminary data from the Panama Maritime Authority.
VLSFO sales rose by about 11% in January, while LSMGO volumes climbed modestly. HSFO sales fell sharply, by around 21% month-on-month.

Total sales averaged about 15,700 mt/day in January, up from roughly 15,400 mt/day in December.
A total of 674 ships bunkered at Panama’s ports in January, higher than December’s 656 ships, while the number of barges operating declined slightly to 29.

The average stem size edged down to around 725 mt, from about 730 mt in the previous month.

VLSFO remained the dominant grade in Panama’s bunker market in January, accounting for around 67% of total sales.
HSFO’s share declined to about 21%, while MGO volumes made up roughly 12% of overall sales.
Bunker fuel demand in Panama has seen a modest increase this week compared to last week, a trader said. VLSFO and HSFO are tight at the ports of Balboa and Cristobal, requiring lead times of over 7 days to secure supply.

Meanwhile, LSMGO is available with shorter lead times of 3–5 days.
Source: ENGINE, (https://www.engine.online/news)