Heinrich Wegener & Sohn, a family-run German company that supplies marine fuels and lubricants to the shipping industry, recently joined Global Ethanol Association as its newest member. 

With a long-standing reputation in maritime logistics and bunkering, the association said Heinrich Wegener & Sohn brings valuable expertise and industry leadership at a time when demand for low-carbon marine fuels is accelerating.

“Together, we look forward to advancing the development of ethanol and methanol bunkering by fostering collaboration across the maritime value chain, supporting infrastructure development, and helping enable the transition to cleaner, more sustainable shipping,” it said. 

The company, founded in 1929, focuses on the supply of marine diesel, gas oil, methanol, and certified biofuels in accordance with the RED II directive.

As a German reseller for Gulf Oil Marine, the company supplies marine lubricants to over 380 ships worldwide on a contract basis.

Photo credit: Heinrich Wegener & Sohn
Published: 7 July, 2026

Dutch biofuel supplier FincoEnergies on Thursday (2 July) announced the completion of global commodities trader Glencore’s acquisition of a majority stake in the company, forming a partnership with Coloured Finches.

FincoEnergies said its fuel distribution and logistics infrastructure, customer relationships and expertise in downstream fuel transportation will be complemented by Glencore’s global scale, sourcing capabilities and experience across the energy value chain.

With Glencore’s support, FincoEnergies added it is well positioned to continue expanding its offerings in biofuels and decarbonisation solutions across multiple transport segments and to increase its presence in new geographies.

Jan-Willem van der Velden, FincoEnergies CEO and Founder, said: “Today marks an exciting next step for FincoEnergies. Glencore already knows our business well, and this builds on years of collaboration, trust and shared ambition. With Glencore’s support and global reach behind us, we are in a strong position to continue growing our business and supporting our customers as demand for lower-carbon fuel solutions continues to evolve.”

Maxim Kolupaev, Head of Glencore Energy UK, said: “Glencore’s investment in FincoEnergies strengthens the presence of our business in Northwest Europe and creates a strong platform for future growth. We are looking forward to continuing to work closely with the FincoEnergies team and building on the successful relationship we have already developed together.”

Manifold Times previously reported FincoEnergies signing an agreement with Glencore for the acquisition of a majority shareholding in the FincoEnergies Group in a partnership with Coloured Finches.

Related: Glencore acquires majority stake in Dutch biofuel supplier FincoEnergies

Photo credit: FincoEnergies
Published: 3 July, 2026

Latest data from classification society DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform showed a total of 15 new orders for alternative-fuelled vessels were placed in June 2026.

This consisted of 10 orders for LNG-fuelled vessels, nine of which were car carriers and one a CO2 carrier. The remaining five orders were for LPG/ethane carriers.

Two LNG-bunker vessels were also ordered in June, bringing the total in this segment to seven so far in 2026.

In total, 137 alternative-fuelled vessels were ordered in the first half of 2026, down 11.6% from 155 in the same period in 2025. 

Over half of these (73) were for LNG-fuelled vessels, with most coming from the container (42) and car carrier (21) segments. LPG/ethane carriers were also prominent, with 55 new orders, a significant uptick compared to the first half of 2025 (15). The remaining orders were for vessels fuelled by methanol (2), ethanol (2), ammonia (4), and hydrogen (1).

Deliveries in the first half of the year point to continued uptake of alternative-fuelled tonnage across several segments, with 61 LNG-fuelled vessels and 38 methanol-fuelled vessels delivered so far in 2026.

More recently, Exmar took delivery of what it described as the first oceangoing dual-fuel ammonia vessel, marking a step beyond earlier ammonia-fuelled deliveries, which have largely been associated with pilot or demonstration projects rather than commercial deployment.

Jason Stefanatos, Global Decarbonization Director at DNV Maritime, said: “What we can take away from the first half of 2026, in terms of the alternative-fuels orderbook, is that we have a market progressing at different speeds depending on segment economics, fuel availability, and the regulatory landscape. Shipowners and other stakeholders are pursuing different pathways based on their individual priorities and requirements.

“LNG remains the leading near-term fuel option, with order activity continuing to be led by containers and car carriers. LPG and ethane carriers have also accounted for a significant share of activity in the first half of the year, while developments in areas such as ammonia and ethanol show that multiple pathways continue to be explored.”

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 3 July, 2026