In the first nine months of the year, 2.8 million barrels of marine fuel were sold, 38% more than was sold in the same period in 2016.
According to figures from the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), the sale of marine fuel during the first three quarters of 2017 increased by 38% in year-on-year terms, rising from 2 million barrels between January and September 2016 to 2.8 million barrels in the same period in 2017.
In the first half of the year 2.4 million metric tons of marine fuel were shipped into the country's port terminals, 24% more than in the same period in 2016.
The start of operations of the expanded Canal is the main reason behind the increase of almost 24% in the sale of marine fuel to boats in Panamanian ports, according to representatives from the sector. Figures from the Panama Maritime Authority report that between January and June, 2.4 million metric tons of marine fuel were traded, 461 thousand tons more than in the first half of last year.
Construction has been announced of 9 additional storage tanks and a pier with two berths to supply 2.5 million barrels.
From a statement issued by the National Secretariat of Energy in Panama:
The sale of marine fuel or bunkering, an activity that generates about $900 million a year to the country's economy, will grow with the expanding operations of the Free Zone for Fuels, located in Bahía Las Minas, Colon Province.
The rise in prices and fuel supply problems in markets like Colombia explain the 10% increase in sales of bunker fuel in the first half of the year.
After experiencing a slight decrease in the rate of business growth, companies engaged in the storage and sale of marine or bunker fuel say they feel there is an improvement in the activity. In previous years, vessels transiting the Canal were buying fuel in Colombia and other Caribbean countries.
As a hub of maritime services Singapore is winning the race against Panama, which in the past sold 60 million tons of bunker fuel but now only sells 20 million.
This represents a 40% decline in the 'bunkering' market in Panama, due to several factors, including lack of competitiveness in fuel prices not being oil producer.
The president of the Maritime Chamber of Panama, Juan Carlos Croston, told Panamaamerica.com.pa that "a few decades ago ... Panama was the world's leading supplier of bunker fuel, but today Singapore, thanks to the introduction of policies which promoted competitiveness, accounts for almost 40% of the market. "
Although the market is not growing significantly, there is still investment being made in new terminals for the storage and supply of the fuel.
"Recently the fuel terminal Melones, located in the Pacific and rated by experts as "state of the art" went into operation. The investment in this project has been estimated at between $60 million and $90 million.
The Panama Maritime Chamber is calling for legislation for fuel services to cover the event of a fuel spill and the operation of ships in domestic waters related to the service.
"We have a maritime laws for classification, construction and manning of international ships, but not for ships in national waters," said Joseph DiGeronimo, president of the Maritime Chamber of Panama, reported Prensa.com.
The Costa Rican state electricity and fuel companies have agreed to build a terminal for the supply of bunker fuel.
From a press release by RECOPE :
The Costa Rican Petroleum Refinery (RECOPE SA) and the Instituto Costarricensede Electricidad (ICE), have pledged to work together in developing the Pacific Terminal project, which will allow the country to have another alternative way to import fuel which will strengthen RECOPE’s value chain in infrastructure and reduces the risk of shortages, as well as providing an alternative supply of bunker fuel for consumption centers on the Pacific coast, in particular for electricity generation in the Garabito thermal plant.
The country is to invest $300 million in installing new storage tanks for bunker and other oil derivatives.
The new tanks will enable Panama to double its storage capacity from 5 million barrels now to 10 million in 2014.
Wilfredo Jordán's article for Prensa.com comments that, "according to studies, for every four ships that pass through the canal, only one refuels at Panamanian facilities".