Availability of slurry oil -- a heavy aromatic byproduct of a refinery's fluid catalytic cracking unit often used to cut the viscosity of high sulfur fuel -- has plummeted in the US Gulf Coast region as China pulls hefty volumes east for carbon black demand, according to market sources.

"It could simply be barges recording wrong grade names," a trader said.

If the vessel is fixed this will be one of two expected fuel oil VLCC departures in August.

BHP may struggle to supply heavy sweet Australian crude to the Asian market at least during the H2 2018.

Orders have risen for company's scrubbers,LNG fuel gas supply systems among other products.

Accusations that Saudi Arabia and its allies were aiming to substantially oversupply the market were without basis, Aama said.