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Bunker sales in Singapore fell by 349,700 tonnes in February 2009 compared to 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 dropped to 2,670,000 tonnes last month from 3,019,700 tonnes in January, a decrease of 11.6 percent.

The figure was also 64,000 tonnes lower than in February 2008, when the monthly total reached 2,734,000 tonnes, and, significantly was less than every monthly total recorded last year.

Sales of 380-centistoke (cst) - Singapore's largest-selling bunker grade - fell by 207,200 tonnes last month compared to January 2009, reaching 2,123,900 tonnes. In a comparison with February 2008, sales volumes were 109,500 tonnes higher.

Meanwhile sales of 500-cst - the second-best selling product in Singapore - decreased significantly in February 2009 compared to the previous month. Volumes sold were 213,900 tonnes versus 325,800 tonnes in January, a fall of 111,900 tonnes, or 34.3 percent. The figure was also lower than in February 2008, when 296,500 tonnes were sold.

Distillate sales were also lower in February 2009. Marine gas oil (MGO) volumes fell by 5,500 tonnes compared to January and by 400 tonnes in a comparison with February 2008. Sales of Marine diesel oil (MDO) dropped by 500 tonnes to 1,100 tonnes last month compared to January.

Following last month's decrease to levels below those recorded during the whole of 2008, 180-cst sales rose by just 5,200 tonnes to 186,700 tonnes in February 2009, but the figure was still lower than 2008 levels.

Below is a table of bunker sales in Singapore for each fuel grade in 2009 and 2008.

2009	Total	500cst	380cst	180cst	MGO
Jan	3,019.7	325.8	2331.1	181.5	132.3
Feb	2,670.0	213.9	2,123.9	186.7	126.8
Total	5,689.7	539.7	4,455.0	368.2	259.1

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
November	2,879.9	417.1	2,116.4	202.7	122.6
December	2,734.3	312.8	2,058.0	208.4	140.1
Total	34.936.4	4,383.6	25,941.9	2,696.0	1,537.7