Japanese refiner Idemitsu and Kanematsu team up in supplying bio bunker fuel to vessels
- Published
by Admin
Japanese refiner Idemitsu on Wednesday (3 December) said it has partnered with trading house Kanematsu Corporation to supply biofuel blends, a blend of heavy oil and fatty-acid methyl ester (FAME), for ocean-going vessels.
Under the initiative, Idemitsu and Kanematsu will utilise the onshore tanks and offshore loading equipment at Kanematsu Yuso’s Kokura Oil Tank Terminal in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture to deliver the fuel.
Idemitsu has begun supplying the biofuel blends to some shipping companies — including Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha or “K Line”). Idemitsu aims to supply a total of 5,000 metric tonnes (mt) of the biofuel blends to ships including domestic coastal vessels by March 2026.
Idemitsu noted that compared with conventional marine fuels, the biodiesel blend is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 20%.
The company reported that it has already conducted sea trials on domestic coastal vessels in Hokkaido between 2023 and 2024.
Looking ahead, Idemitsu says it is considering expanding its marine-fuel supply system using its own marine shipping facilities to accommodate increased supply. The company is also working toward establishing a domestic supply system for e-methanol to offer alongside the biofuel blend.
Photo credit: Kanematsu
Published: 9 December, 2025
