Japan''s Aug. bunker fuel sales rise 3.7% on year to 2.1 mil barrels: METI

Japan sold 336,740 kiloliters or 2.1 million barrels of bonded bunker fuel in August, up 3.7% year on year, data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed.

Sales have been rising for three consecutive months, according to METI.

August sales were 7.8% lower than July''s 2.3 million barrels (365,294 kl). Bunker demand in August typically declines as production slows down due to the holiday season.

Sales of bonded marine diesel oil in August stood at 25,178 barrels (4,003 kl), down 47.7% from a year earlier and 21.8% lower from July, the data showed.

Japan imported 111,248 barrels (17,687 kl) of bonded bunker fuel in August, up 18.5% year on year. The imports were 96.8% higher from July, when 93,844 barrels (14,920 kl) were imported, METI data showed.

Sales of bonded bunker fuel in September will be released on November 14.

Bonded bunker fuel is exempt from tax and can be sold only to ships plying international routes.
Source: Platts