Gulf Petrochem Group enters ARA bunker market

Entry into the ARA (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp) market compliments the Sharjah-headquartered company’s physical bunker supply in neighbouring emirate Fujairah and operations from its Singapore office.

GPG will service its existing global customer base at Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, out of its new office based in Dordrecht in The Netherlands.

Neil Lamerton, GPG’s global head of bunkering, confirmed the group will offer a “wide portfolio of marine fuel products” such as 380cst and LSGO from two exclusive time chartered barges, the Virage and the Arctic. Both have a capacity of 3,000 dwt and pumping capacity of 960cbm/hour (Virage) and 800cbm/hour (Arctic). The Dordrecht office will also undertake worldwide bunker and cargo trading.

“We know that the market situation is volatile, and in this risk conscious market we are pleased to have achieved a long term strategic objective of the group to be able to offer physical bunker supplies to our customers out of the port of Rotterdam.”

“This expansion is indicative of our prudent risk management practices especially considering current market conditions. Our group continues to be unaffected with further expansion plans for Rotterdam in place for 2016.”

GPG operates bunkering barges at the Port of Fujairah, Jebel Ali Port in Dubai and at Khorfakkan on Sharjah’s eastern seaboard as well as via truck at all other UAE ports. It also offers physical supply in the Gulf of Kutch and elsewhere in India at the ports of Kandla, Sikka and Vadinar. Its bunkering footprint also extends to its “expanded” Singapore and London offices.

GPG specialises in oil trading, refining, storage terminals, grease and bitumen manufacturing and shipping and logistics.