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Marine fuel supplier Lukoil Bulgaria Bunker Ltd. says it recorded a 20 percent month-on-month increase in sales at the Romanian port of Constantza in November.

The company carries out deliveries of 380 centistoke (cst), 180 cst and low sulphur marine gasoil (MGO) at Constantza and has been a supplier there since November 2010.

Constantza is one of the largest ports in Europe and the third largest in the Black Sea region, with annual bunker sales of over 400,000 tonnes. It is situated at the crossroads of trade routes from Europe to Asia and represents a key link in the strategic shipping corridor of the Danube river.

Trade and shipping corridors in the region are being developed, which means that Danube river transit and vessel docking in Constantza are expected to grow by 1-2 percent per year up until 2025.

Earlier this year, Romanian bunker supplier Gazpromneft Marine Bunker Balkan S.A. (formerly Marine Bunker Balkan S.A.) said it expected to achieve annual bunker fuel sales at Constantza of over 100,000 tonnes as the company aims to establish itself as a key player at the port. The company recently expanded its presence in Romania to the ports of Mangalia and Midia, sourcing bunker fuel from Gazprom Neft's Russian and Serbian refineries.

Meanwhile, Lukoil Bulgaria Bunker Ltd. confirmed this week that it began supplying marine fuel at Midia in November, using its own barge, Navi.

In addition to Constantza and Midia, Lukoil Bulgaria Bunker provides bunkering services at the Bulgarian ports of Rousse, Vidin, Silistra, Lom, Bourgas, Rosenets and Varna as well as at the 61st mile of the Danube river and Kladovo in Serbia.