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Bunker sales in Singapore increased for the first time since July during the month of October, according to data released by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

Total sales at the world's leading bunker port rose in October by 182,000 tonnes, or 5.5 percent, to 3,508,400 tonnes, up from 3,326,400 tonnes the previous month.

Despite the increase, October's volume figure is the third lowest since April 2011 and the third lowest of the year so far. Also, significantly, bunker sales between August and October were 10,390,800 tonnes - the lowest rolling 3-monthly total since February-April 2011.

In comparison with the corresponding month last year October volumes were down 37,800 tonnes, or 1.1 percent.

Accumulated sales for the year so far are 35,794.000 tonnes, which represents a rise of just 59,700 tonnes, or 0.2 percent, on the 35,734,300 tonnes achieved during the first ten months of 2011.

Please find below a table that shows how accumulated sales compared to 2011 fell to their lowest level since March during the month of October.

Month	Accum. Sales vs 2011
Jan 2012	26.1
Feb 2012	-150.0
Mar 2012	-61.9
Apr 2012	425.0
May 2012	788.8
Jun 2012	576.5
Jul 2012	598.8
Aug 2012	339.5
Sep 2012	97.5
Oct 2012	59.7

Sales of 380-centistoke (cst) - Singapore's largest-selling bunker grade - rose by 176,900 tonnes, or 6.9 percent, to 2,747,000 tonnes last month, up from 2,570,100 tonnes in September.

Meanwhile, 500-cst volumes climbed 13,200 tonnes, or 2.5 percent, to 549,100 tonnes. The result was 163,800 tonnes, or 42.5 percent, higher than the 385,300 tonnes sold in the corresponding month last year.

Below are tables of bunker sales in Singapore for each fuel grade in 2012 and 2011 with accumulated totals in the bottom row.

2012	Total	500cst	380cst	180cst	MGO
Jan	3,668.5	406.3	3,019.0	115.3	113.3
Feb	3,092.7	407.2	2,436.9	112.3	128.7
Mar	3,608.8	486.9	2,885,4	106.1	126.4
Apr	3,735.4	515.3	2,982.6	103.5	129.9
May	3,985.7	591.5	3,144.6	117.50	128.4
Jun	3,646.9	553.6	2,883.3	85.6	123.4
Jul	3,665.2	503.5	2,924.4	110.0	114.7
Aug	3,556.0	568.1	2,756.7	107.9	120.1
Sep	3,326.4	535.9	2,570.1	87.7	118.1
Oct	3,508.4	549.1	2,747.0	92.7	114.2
Total	35,794.0	5,117.4	28,350.0	1038.6	1217.2

2011	Total	500cst	380cst	180cst	MGO
Jan	3,642.4	480.3	2,841.2	171.0	134.0
Feb	3,268.8	438.7	2,544.2	151.8	111.7
Mar	3,520.7	472.9	2,747.8	146.5	134.9
Apr	3,248.5	425.4	2,541.5	132.2	118.9
May	3,621.9	475.7	2,873.7	130.6	123.2
Jun	3,859.2	515.2	3,031.9	141.1	143.4
Jul	3,642.9	476.6	2,883.7	135.2	127.8
Aug	3,815.3	470.2	3,050.4	133.6	149.3
Sep	3,568.4	468.1	2,836.8	132.0	125.6
Oct	3,546.2	385.3	2,867.1	131.9	145.1
Nov	3,615.4	537.6	2,800.7	124.2	126.8
Dec	3,804.1	431.8	3,103.1	110.9	128.9
Total	43,153.6	5,577.7	34,122.1	1,641.0	1,569.6