Shipowners and traders in Asia are busy stockpiling.

Maersk Line's initiative to secure up to 40% of its low-­sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) needs with storage deals in Europe, the US and Singapore has been well documented, while Euronav’s storage of LSFO on its 441,585-dwt ULCC Oceania (built 2003) in the Mediterranean was revealed by TradeWinds in February.

However, in Asia the picture is more opaque, with few owners revealing their plans for IMO 2020.