New statistics published by the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) show a small monthly rise in total bunker sales, from 442,886 metric tonnes (mt) in February to 448,093 mt in March; there were increases in very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) and marine diesel oil (MDO) volumes, but a dip in demand for high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO).
VLSFO sales in March totalled 353,436 mt, up from 346,742 mt in February. MDO volumes increased from 55,055 mt in February to 59,897 mt in March.
A total of 644 vessels called for bunkers at the Canal in March, up from 613 the previous month. Across 2020 to date, 1,982 vessels have lifted bunkers at the waterway, a notable rise from the 1,627 vessel which refuelled in the first three months of 2019.
Bunker sales on the Pacific side of the Canal totalled 369,486 mt in March, while volumes continued their steady month-on-month decline on the Atlantic side – totalling 78,607 mt.