Kanematsu starts to supply low sulfur bunker fuel in Japan
Japanese trader Kanematsu has started to supply low sulfur bunker fuel in the country, a source with the company has told Platts. Sales of the Emissions Control Area (ECA) compliant bunkers, which have a maximum sulfur content of 1 percent by weight, started at the port of Kokura in the second half of December 2012.
Kanematsu was said to have a 500,000 barrel fuel oil storage facility at the location, with the ability to blend bunkers on-site. The company was also said to be expecting to sell about 1,000 metric tonnes (mt) of low sulfur bunkers per month.
In October 2012 Japanese refiner Cosmo Oil Company, Limited (Cosmo Oil) also started to supply low sulfur bunker fuel in the country. Japan's total bunker fuel sales are estimated at about 350,000 mt per month.
