HSFO 3.5% High Sulphur Fuel Oil

380 cSt and 180 cSt high sulphur fuel oil for scrubber ships and power plants

HSFO is residual fuel oil with sulphur up to 3.50% m/m, sold mainly as 380 cSt (ISO 8217 RMG 380) and 180 cSt (RMG 180); ISO 8217:2024 gives it a separate table from VLSFO. Since IMO 2020 capped marine fuel sulphur at 0.50%, a ship may only burn HSFO if an approved exhaust gas cleaning system (scrubber) is fitted and working. Demand has held up: 2025 reporting on Singapore's record bunker year showed higher HSFO sales offsetting lower VLSFO sales. Away from ships, HSFO is burned in oil-fired power plants and industrial boilers, and it goes into refinery conversion units as feedstock, where price, density and metals count for more than sulphur.

Inside an Emission Control Area, fuel sulphur may not exceed 0.10% unless a scrubber is used. The ECAs are the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the North American area, the US Caribbean Sea area and, from 1 May 2025, the whole Mediterranean. Buyers check viscosity, density at 15°C, sulphur, water, ash, aluminium plus silicon and flash point, and for burner fuel the calorific value. Bunker deliveries carry a bunker delivery note and MARPOL sample like any other marine fuel. Prices are referenced to published Platts or Argus high sulphur fuel oil assessments at Singapore, Fujairah and Rotterdam. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers HSFO cargoes and bunker stems against the refinery named on the certificate of analysis, SGS or Intertek inspection, and a named buyer, charterer or ship. Offers built on tank storage receipts, dip tests, ICPO/FCO procedures or advance fees are not worked; every enquiry is screened.

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Excluded origins are not offered, including product re-exported, blended or re-processed through a third country. Every lot moves with a certificate of origin naming the producing plant, mine or grower country, and nothing is quoted before the seller and loading point are known.