Taiwan's state-owned CPC sold 1.35 million mt of bunker fuel in 2013, up 2.6% from a year earlier, a company source said Friday.
There are two bunker suppliers in Taiwan, while CPC covers more than 90% of supply there, the source added.
The source said demand picked up after a pipeline explosion suspended bunkering operations in Qingdao, east China, in November last year.
The Chinese government ordered the suspension of bunker fuel loading at the port over November 22-29.
Even after the government allowed bunkering operations, it took time for normal operations to resume, a market source said.
While bunkering operations were suspended, Hong Kong and Japan experienced an increase in consumption.
CPC supplies bunker fuel at five ports in Taiwan -- Hualien, Suao, Kaohsiung, Keelung and Taichung. The company suspended 380 CST bunker fuel supply in Taichung in December 2012 for maintenance on a storage tank there.
The company will restart supply of the grade at Taichung in late March or April, the source added.
