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Argus Media viewpoint: Asia bio-bunkers to gain from EU regulations

Shipowners with ships operating on east-west route could look to bunker marine biodiesel in Singapore or Asia, and then pool that vessel along with other vessels in their fleet that operate solely within Europe.

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New regulations in Europe should support Asian demand for marine biodiesel in 2025.

The scope of emissions covered under the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) will rise to 70pc next year from 40pc this year, and this will be accompanied by the introduction of the FuelEU Maritime regulations at the turn of the year.

FuelEU Maritime requires a reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of fuels by 2pc in 2025 and up to 80pc by 2050, against a 2020 baseline level of 91.16 grammes of CO2 equivalent (gCO2e) per MJ.

These upcoming regulatory changes in Europe should support buying interest for marine biodiesel blends because biofuels compliant with the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED) will have a zero CO2 emissions factor under the ETS next year. And waste-based biodiesel produced from feedstocks such as used cooking oil (UCO), which typically provide higher GHG emissions against fossil comparators under RED than crop-based biofuels, will be a viable alternative for many shipowners looking to reduce the GHG intensity of their conventional vessels.

The regulations will not only support demand for marine biodiesel in Europe. They encompasses various flexibility mechanisms, aimed at supporting shipowners in meeting the required reductions, including a system that allows two or more vessels to create a pool in which compliance can be achieved across all vessels within the group as long as the total overall compliance balance of the pool is positive.

Vessels operating between Asia and Europe will have half of energy consumed on those voyages subject to FuelEU Maritme regulations. The energy consumed from a marine biodiesel blend bunkered in Singapore, for example, could be mass balanced to be fully accounted for under this scope. Shipowners with vessels operating on the east-west route could therefore look to bunker marine biodiesel in Singapore or other parts of Asia, and then pool that vessel along with other vessels in their fleet that operate solely within Europe to achieve compliance using a non-European bunkered product.

This dynamic will be supported by anti-dumping duties (ADD) imposed on Chinese biodiesel imports into Europe. The European Commission announced earlier this year provisional ADD measures on China-origin biodiesel and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), with definitive measures set for mid-February 2025. In anticipation of the provisional duties, exports of Chinese biodiesel to the EU fell by over 50pc to 563,440t in the first half of this year compared with the same period of 2023.

At the same time, exports of Chinese biodiesel to Singapore hit a monthly high of 16,500t in August, which was mainly attributed to marine biodiesel blends being bunkered at the port. This pushed Argus price assessments of B24 dob Singapore, a blend comprising used cooking oil methyl ester (Ucome) and very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), to an average discount of about $90/t against B30 Ucome dob ARA in August-October.

The more competitive pricing led to a shift in voluntary demand for marine biodiesel blends away from the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) hub in northwest Europe and towards Singapore. Marine biodiesel blend sales in Singapore hit a monthly high of 116,200t in October, according to data from the local maritime and port authority.

The option to bunker marine biodiesel blends in Asia to meet European regulations will not be limited to Singapore. China’s Zhoushan Port Authority said it will obtain a domestic blend permit by the end of this year, which will pave the way for suppliers to provide marine biodiesel blends to local and international shipowners.

By Hussein Al-Khalisy

 

Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 17 December, 2024

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Alternative Fuels

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: LSMGO surges to greater premium over biofuel

B100 discount to LSMGO widens to $541/mt in Rotterdam; Singapore’s B100 drops to $106/mt below LSMGO; Rotterdam LBM at $639-833/mt discounts to LSMGO.

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ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: LSMGO surges to greater premium over biofuel

Once a week, bunker intelligence platform ENGINE will publish a snapshot of alternative and conventional bunker fuel prices in the world’s two biggest bunkering hubs. The following is the latest snapshot:

20 July 2026

  • B100 discount to LSMGO widens to $541/mt in Rotterdam
  • Singapore’s B100 drops to $106/mt below LSMGO
  • Rotterdam LBM at $639-833/mt discounts to LSMGO

B100’s premium over HSFO in Rotterdam has narrowed by $50/mt over the past week to $64/mt, while its discount to VLSFO has widened by $83/mt to $105/mt.

B100 has become far more competitive against LSMGO in Rotterdam, with its discount widening by $180/mt over the past week to $541/mt, as a surge in conventional fuel prices left B100 broadly unchanged by comparison.

B100’s price has risen by $109/mt in Singapore, but its discount to LSMGO has still widened by $102/mt to $106/mt, as LSMGO surged by an even greater $211/mt.

Rotterdam’s LNG premium over VLSFO has widened by $35/mt to $201/mt for vessels with Otto medium speed (Otto MS) engines. For vessels with diesel slow speed (diesel SS) engines, LNG has flipped to a $15/mt premium over VLSFO, from a $22/mt discount the prior week.

Liquefied biomethane (LBM) discounts to VLSFO in Rotterdam have narrowed by $50-52/mt to $203-396/mt over the past week. Against LSMGO, LBM discounts have widened by $45-47/mt to $639-833/mt, depending on engine type.

In Singapore, LNG is now $42/mt cheaper than LSMGO for vessels with Otto MS engines, and $134/mt cheaper for vessels with diesel SS engines.

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: LSMGO surges to greater premium over biofuel

Liquid fuels

HSFO and VLSFO prices in Rotterdam have jumped by $66/mt and $99/mt respectively over the past week, while LSMGO has surged by an even steeper $196/mt. A $9.69/bbl ($71/mt) rise in front-month ICE Brent futures, to $87.94/bbl ($645/mt), drove bunker prices sharply higher across the board.

Bunker fuel availability is tight for prompt delivery dates in the ARA ports, with buyers advised to enquire about stems between 5-7 days ahead to get good coverage, a trader said.

Rotterdam’s B100 price has risen by $16/mt over the past week. Dutch ZRE A ticket prices were unchanged at €107.50/mtCO2e.

Singapore’s HSFO and VLSFO prices have risen by $130/mt and $132/mt respectively, while its LSMGO price has gained an even steeper $211/mt over the past week.

VLSFO availability in Singapore has been tight, with several suppliers reporting low stock levels. Recommended lead times have widened from 13–17 days last week to 14–19 days now.

Liquid gases

Rotterdam’s LNG prices have surged by $134-136/mt over the past week, while its LBM prices have climbed by $149-151/mt.

LBM discounts to LNG in Rotterdam have narrowed by $15/mt to $404-411/mt.

Singapore’s LNG bunker benchmarks have surged by $196-197/mt over the past week.

By Erik Hoffmann

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 21 July, 2026

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Alternative Fuels

Repsol and Maersk wrap up first bioethanol bunkering operation in Port of Barcelona

Repsol supplied 2,800 mt of bioethanol to a Maersk container vessel, “Antonia Maersk”, in the first bunkering operation of its kind in the Port of Barcelona and one of the first in the Mediterranean.

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Repsol and Maersk wrap up first bioethanol bunkering operation in Port of Barcelona

Spanish energy company Repsol and shipping giant A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) completed the first bioethanol bunkering operation in the Port of Barcelona, according to the port authority on Wednesday (15 July). 

Repsol successfully supplied 2,800 metric tonnes (mt) of bioethanol to a Maersk container vessel, Antonia Maersk, in the first bunkering operation of its kind in the Port of Barcelona and one of the first in the Mediterranean. 

The operation demonstrates growing demand for alcohol-based marine fuels, as well as the readiness of the infrastructure, logistics, and operational capabilities required to support their deployment at commercial scale. 

Juan Abascal, Repsol’s Executive Managing Director of Industrial Transformation and Circular Economy, said: “With this supply, we reaffirm our commitment to the decarbonization of maritime transport through solutions that are available today and ready to scale in the future. 

“At Repsol, we provide shipping companies with a reliable supply chain and a multi-energy strategy that combines different renewable fuels to support the sector in a safe, competitive, and sustainable transition.”

The supply took place in the Port of Barcelona under fully commercial conditions, bringing together key players across the maritime value chain and demonstrating how collaboration can accelerate the adoption of lower-emission solutions in shipping. 

The delivery was carried out by Bahía Candela, Repsol’s newest bunker vessel, operated by Mureloil and designed to supply both conventional marine fuels and next-generation energy products. 

During the bunkering operation, Bahía Candela operated using its battery system, enabling the fuel transfer to be completed with zero local emissions, and further reducing the environmental footprint of the operation. 

Prior to the bunkering, Maersk tested ethanol on one of its smaller vessels, the 1,800 TEU feeder vessel Laura Maersk, which in 2023 became the world’s first dual-fuel container vessel able to operate on methanol. Today, Maersk has 23 dual-fuel container vessels designed to operate on methanol; however, the company continues to explore ethanol as an alternative fuel for its methanol-enabled vessels. Laura Maersk has performed sailings on 100% ethanol as well as blends of ethanol and methanol. 

Emma Mazhari, Vice President Energy Markets at Maersk, said: “Following the successful ethanol trials conducted on Laura Maersk, this latest bunkering of Antonia Maersk marks another important step in our efforts to explore scalable low-emission fuel solutions. 

“As the first ethanol trial on one of our large dual-fuel vessels, with a capacity of 16,000 TEU, it allows us to deepen our understanding of ethanol’s operational potential at scale. 

“Building on the experience we have gained with methanol, we are working closely with port authorities and industry partners to develop the infrastructure and procedures needed to support ethanol bunkering. Ethanol is one of several pathways we are pursuing to diversify our future fuel portfolio and help accelerate the development of new, viable liquid marine fuel markets.”

 

Photo credit: Port of Barcelona
Published: 20 July, 2026

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Biofuel

DP World, Svitzer switch harbour tug to HVO100 biofuel at London Gateway

“Svitzer Thames” switching from marine diesel to HVO can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 700 mt annually, while also improving local air quality.

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DP World, Svitzer switch harbour tug to 100% HVO at London Gateway

Global logistics group DP World recently said the company bunkered the first harbour tug to use 100% Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel at London Gateway, in collaboration with Svitzer.

Svitzer Thames handles some of the world’s largest container ships at the port, and switching from marine diesel to HVO can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 700 metric tonnes (mt) annually, while also improving local air quality.

“DP World and Svitzer are working together to use biofuel on tugs to reduce emissions in the UK, enabling cargo owners to actively reduce supply chain emissions at the source,” DP World said in a social media post.  

“By transitioning to this lower lifecycle emissions solution, we are helping our customers to tackle scope 3 emissions and meet their sustainability goals along the supply chain.”

DP World partnered with marine services company Svitzer, under a partnership that will see its tug boats serving DP World’s ports transition to these fuels.

Manifold Times previously reported DP World supporting the bunkering of tugboat Svitzer Bargate using 100% Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in place of conventional diesel.

The operation was conducted at the Port of Southampton in the UK. 

The company added that the emissions savings from this activity form part of the last nautical mile carbon inset credits under its Carbon Inset Programme, enabling cargo owners to actively reduce supply chain emissions at the source. 

Related: DP World supports HVO100 bunkering operation of Svitzer tugboat

 

Photo credit: DP World
Published: 20 July, 2026

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