In the view of Adam Dupré, CEO of Ocean Intelligence Pte Ltd, the importance of counter-party risk is increasing.

"It really is an essential issue and one that deserves huge amounts of attention both from suppliers and buyers in the bunker markets," he wrote on Bunkerworld recently.

The bunker industry is facing a number of challenges at present, including a return of price volatility to markets where values are now $150 higher for residual grades than at the start of the year.

"Counter-party risk has, in many ways, actually surpassed price volatility as a matter of deepest concern to the market," Dupré noted, however. "If your debtors default enough times, your business is finished, and with relatively high prices and low margins, that may not be too many times for some players."

As well, there have been reports of falling demand in many ports as the wider shipping industry struggles with the recession and over-capacity.

In the near future, new environmental regulations towards cleaner fuels and greater efficiency will impact long-range supply and demand considerations for bunkers.

Vote below to share your view on whether the risk of counter-party default is at the top of the list of major concerns for the bunker supply industry at present