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Bunker sales in Singapore rose by 69,300 tonnes in October compared to the previous month, according to preliminary estimates released by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

Total sales of marine fuel at the world's leading bunker port rose to 2,925,500 tonnes from 2,856,200 in September. The figure was also 203,700 tonnes higher than in October 2007, where the monthly total reached 2,721,800 tonnes.

Annual bunker sales in Singapore are now on course to surpass the 34.5 million mark this year and break last year's record of 31,546,000 tonnes by November, with one month to spare. Accumulated sales for the year so far have now already reached 29,322,200 tonnes.

Sales of 380-centistoke (cst) - Singapore's largest-selling bunker grade - rose by 88,500 tonnes in October to 2,174,100 from 2,085,600 tonnes the previous month. The figure was also 233,800 tonnes higher than in October 2007.

Meanwhile sales of 500-cst - the second-best selling product in Singapore - fell by 16,700 tonnes last month compared to September from 409,200 to 392,500 tonnes. Volumes sold last month were also 4,300 tonnes lower than those recorded in October last year.

Monthly sales of 180-cst were also slightly lower in October compared to the previous month, dropping by 1,700 tonnes from 204,700 to 203,000 tonnes. In a comparison with October 2007, 180-cst sales volumes were 29,300 tonnes lower last month.

Both distillate grades showed a rise in monthly sales versus September. Whilst marine diesel oil (MDO) sales rose from 800 tonnes to 1,300 tonnes, sales of marine gasoil (MGO) increased by 1,400 tonnes from 134,300 tonnes in September to 157,700 tonnes last month.

In a comparison with last year's figures, MGO sales rose by 12,600 tonnes from 123,100 tonnes to 135,700 tonnes. Meanwhile, MDO sales were just 500 tonnes higher in October 2008.

Below is a table of bunker sales in Singapore for 2008 with accumulated totals in the bottom row.

2008	Total	500cst	380cst	180cst	MGO
Jan	2,802.2	351.6	2,048.8	239.6	127.0
Feb	2,734.0	296.5	2,014.4	263.8	127.2
March	3,045.3	361.4	2,275.7	235.4	137.0
April	3,047.0	355.5	2,286.6	246.6	125.3
May	2,919.0	391.3	2,157.2	207.3	116.2
June	2,810.4	354.8	2,075.2	235.1	108.4
July	3,030.9	364.5	2,277.4	210.7	129.7
August	3,151.7	376.4	2,372.5	238.7	134.2
September	2,856.2	409.2	2,085.6	204.7	134.3
October	2,925.5	392.5	2,174.1	203.0	135.7
Total	29,322.2	3,653.7	21,767.5	2,284.9	1,275.0