While maritime traffic in the Strait of Gibraltar and the Central Mediterranean is facing blockages due to bad weather and stock shortages, the ports in the Canary Islands, led by Las Palmas, are holding steady, although not without closely monitoring weather forecasts and delivery times for certain heavy fuels. At the port of Las Palmas, the situation for shipowners is currently one of a tense calm. According to the latest market data, the supply of LSMGO (low sulfur marine gasoil) and VLSFO is available quickly, positioning the port as an efficient alternative to the congestion experienced in other hubs.
However, the current Achilles’ heel is HSFO, where buyers are encountering greater difficulties, with delivery times extending to 7 to 10 days. Additionally, there is the challenge posed by the weather: the port agent MH Bland has warned of swells that could reach 4 meters intermittently between today and February 5. For now, refueling operations have taken refuge in the inner anchorage and at the dock to avoid total stoppages.
In the refuelling points in Lomé (Togo) and Walvis Bay (Namibia), shipowners are hitting a wall: the availability of HSFO is currently ‘very limited’. Those vessels requiring this grade of fuel are having to adjust their expectations or wait. In contrast, for LSMGO and VLSFO, delivery times remain stable, between 5 and 7 days.
At the port of Luanda (Angola), the situation is entirely normal. Unlike what is observed in the Mediterranean, the supply of both VLSFO and HSFO remains at regular levels, consolidating it as a safe haven for the fleet transiting down the South Atlantic. Similarly, Lagos (Nigeria) is progressing, where local suppliers are managing to organize deliveries of VLSFO in a competitive timeframe of just 5 days. The ports of Durban and Richards Bay currently present one of the best scenarios for the sector, with delivery times ranging from 2 to 4 days for HSFO and VLSFO grades. This speed makes them the main competitor against long-distance routes.
The contrast: Gibraltar and Malta, under pressure
The position of the Canary Islands stands out even more when observing the chaos in the rest of the Atlantic-Mediterranean route: Incoming traffic at the Rock was suspended due to winds of 25 knots and waves of 1.5 meters. It is recommended to book at least 7 days in advance, as availability is critical.
In Barcelona, suppliers require similar advance notice of up to a week for any type of fuel grade.
In Malta, the situation is even more severe. Winds of 35 knots and waves of 3 meters have canceled all offshore operations, creating a bottleneck expected to last until early February. While in the ARA (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp) axis, heating fuel stocks have dropped by 2% in January, the flow of imports from Brazil and India continues to feed European terminals. However, at ports like Gothenburg (Sweden) or Skaw (Denmark), delivery times have already exceeded 10 days, making the Canary ports a much more attractive technical stop in terms of time.
Las Palmas continues to demonstrate its strategic value as the ‘gas station of the Atlantic.’ Despite the restrictions on HSFO and intermittent swell, the speed in supplying the most demanded fuels (VLSFO and LSMGO) allows the island to compete favorably against a Mediterranean region that, between Piraeus and Gibraltar, seems to have run out of maneuvering space.
News written by Pedro Marrero. Edited and verified by Gara Vega. Cross-checked information without institutional filters. This analysis has not been funded by official advertising nor conditioned by lobby interests.
