Bunker deliveries to crude oil tankers in Houston have fallen noticeably this month compared with the previous two months, according to data from analytics firm Spotbarge.
Spotbarge, which tracks bunker demand using AIS data from bunker barges and other sources, recorded 24 deliveries to crude tankers so far in September. That compares with 52 deliveries in August and 37 in July, the firm reported.
What’s Driving the Decline?
Sebastiaan Kosman, founder of Spotbarge, told Ship & Bunker that Houston’s bunkering activity had climbed sharply in the aftermath of the Iran war, a rise he attributed to increased crude oil and oil product loadings at the time. However, this month’s figures suggest that momentum has reversed for crude tankers specifically.
Kosman said the drop could stem from a combination of factors on both the export and import side. “It can mean two things, less crude exports due to the reported low US inventories, but also less imports as historically, Houston-Galveston imports have included significant volumes from Mexico, South America and the Middle East, because Gulf Coast refineries are configured to process heavier crude,” he said, as reported by Ship & Bunker.
Mixed Picture Across Other Vessel Segments
While crude tanker bunkering has softened, activity among other ship types in Houston has told a different story this month. According to Kosman, containership bunker deliveries are currently running at 61% of August’s total, with five and a half days still remaining in the month. A straight-line projection based on that pace points to a roughly 25% decline compared with August, he said.
Oil product tankers, by contrast, are already at 96% of August’s bunkering volume, according to Kosman, who noted this could translate into an overall increase of around 15% versus the previous month once September closes out.
Does This Matter to You?
For those monitoring bunker demand trends and fuel availability along the US Gulf Coast, shifts in Houston’s crude tanker activity can offer an early signal of broader changes in crude export and import flows through the region. Since Kosman linked the slowdown to potential changes in US crude inventories and shifting import patterns from Mexico, South America and the Middle East, operators and traders tracking Gulf Coast crude movements may find this data relevant to understanding fuel demand patterns in the port. The diverging trends across vessel segments, with containership bunkering pulling back while oil product tanker demand strengthens, also point to uneven conditions across different parts of Houston’s port traffic this month, according to Spotbarge’s figures.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker (Spotbarge data)
