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Argus Media: Netherlands biofuel bunker growth uncertainty lingers

Netherlands government subsidizes sales of biofuels for bunkering but the subsidies are not set in stone; they are reviewed annually and could decrease or even be scrapped.

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The inclusion of marine fuel emissions in the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) set to begin in 2024 could drive up biofuel for bunker sales in Rotterdam, but uncertainly lingers around Netherlands biofuels marine fuel subsidies.

17 March 2023

The inclusion of maritime shipping in the EU’s ETS will require ship owners traveling within the EU’s territorial waters to pay for 40pc of their greenhouse emissions from 2024, rising to 70pc from 2025 and to 100pc from 2026.

Biodiesel, as a plug and play fuel, has gained traction with ship owners. Rotterdam biofuel bunker blends sales more than doubled to 791,653t in 2022 from 301,051t in 2021.

Rotterdam B20 biodiesel was priced at a $98/t average premium, or a 17pc premium to very low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), in the first half of March, Argus data showed. Rotterdam B30 biodiesel was pegged at $131/t average premium or a 23pc premium to VLSFO during the same period.

The Netherlands government subsidizes sales of biofuels for bunkering. Without the Netherlands subsidies, B20 and B30 would have been priced at 41pc, or a $232/t premium, and 59pc, or a $331/t premium, to VLSFO, respectively, in the first half of March. But the Netherlands marine use subsidies are not set in stone. They are reviewed annually and could decrease or even be scrapped.

The Netherlands government excluded the maritime sector from its domestic biofuels ticket scheme in 2021 on the back of the disproportionate use of biofuels in shipping in 2020.

Fuel suppliers in the Netherlands’ shipping sector can since then only claim renewable fuel units (HBEs) from biofuels that are produced from feedstock listed in Annex IX part A of the EU’s revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), and therefore classify as advanced. The decision came after fuel suppliers obligated under the Dutch biofuels blending mandate had made increasing use of the option to claim HBEs generated by using renewable energy in seagoing shipping in 2020. Biofuels used in maritime shipping covered almost 30pc of the overall blending target in 2020.

Still, in the 2022 compliance year — which runs between April 2022 and April 2023 — around 32pc of total HBEs issued — or around 23.6mn HBE-Gs — came from the maritime sector. This prompted the Dutch government to remove brown grease, a popular feedstock used for biofuels in shipping, from the list of approved advanced feedstocks in the HBE scheme on 1 January 2023.

By contrast, Singapore, the biggest bunkering port in the world, does not offer biofuel for bunkering subsidies. Singapore biofuel marine fuel sales were at 140,000t in 2022 and data for 2021 is not available. Singapore B24, the most common biofuel bunker blend there, was assessed at $819/t average in the first half of March, 19pc and 15pc higher than Rotterdam B20 and B30, respectively (see chart).

By Stefka Wechsler and Sophie Barthel

 

Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 20 March, 2023

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Bunker Fuel

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales soar by 7.5% on year in June 2025

4.59 million mt of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in June, up from 4.27 million mt recorded during the similar month in 2024, according to MPA.

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Singapore: Bunker fuel sales soar by 7.5% on year in June 2025

Sales of marine fuel at Singapore port increased by 7.5% on year in June 2025, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) data.

In total, 4.59 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,594,700 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in June, up from 4.27 million mt (4,274,900 mt) recorded during the similar month in 2024.

Deliveries of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in June (against on year) recorded respectively 1.70 million mt (+8.6% from 1.56 million mt), 2.31 million mt (-7.2% from 2.33 million mt), 1,900 mt (from zero), 4,500 mt (-88% from 8,000 mt) and zero (from zero).

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales soar by 7.5% on year in June 2025

Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in June (against on year) recorded respectively 38,800 mt (+671.7% from 2,500 mt), 114,300 mt (+97.9% from 45,400 mt), zero (from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from zero). B100 biofuel bunkers, introduced in February this year, recorded 1,000 mt of deliveries in June.

LNG and methanol sales were respectively 55,400 mt (-7.8% from 51,700) and zero (from zero mt). There were no recorded sales of ammonia for the month and so far in 2025.

Related: Singapore: Bunker sales volume raises to year record high of 4.88 million mt in May
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 4% on year in April 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 0.5% on year in March 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 8.1% on year in February 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 9.1% on year in January 2025

A complete series of articles on Singapore bunker volumes reported by Manifold Times tracked since 2018 can be found via the link here.

 

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 15 July 2025

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Alternative Fuels

ITOCHU orders world’s first ammonia bunkering vessel for Singapore demonstration project

Company contracted Sasaki Shipbuilding to build the 5,000 m3 vessel and Izumi Steel Works to construct an ammonia tank plant that will be loaded onto the vessel, which is expected to be delivered in 2027.

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ITOCHU orders world’s first ammonia bunkering vessel for Singapore demonstration project

ITOCHU Corporation (ITOCHU) on Monday (14 July) announced that it recently signed a shipbuilding contract for the construction of a 5,000 m3 ammonia bunkering vessel with Sasaki Shipbuilding. 

The company also announced an agreement regarding the construction of an ammonia tank plant that will be loaded onto the vessel with Izumi Steel Works. 

These agreements were signed by Clean Ammonia Bunkering Shipping Pte Ltd (CABS), a wholly owned Singapore-based specific purpose company of ITOCHU. 

In relation to this, CABS has concluded a financing agreement with The Hiroshima Bank for financing a part of purchase price of the vessel.

The agreements were concluded to pursue the Demonstration Project for Bunkering Ammonia as Marine Fuel in Singapore adopted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan as part of the Global South Future-oriented Co-Creation Project (large-scale demonstration in ASEAN member states). 

Going forward, with an eye toward the demonstration of ammonia bunkering in Singapore after building the world’s first newbuilding ammonia bunkering vessel, ITOCHU said efforts will be made to facilitate concrete discussions with the maritime stakeholders, including the port authority in Singapore, the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), and the fuel producers, while obtaining support from the Japanese Government.

The vessel is to be flagged under the Singapore Registry and is expected to be delivered in September 2027.

ITOCHU will establish a safe offshore bunkering operation of ammonia as marine fuel by way of ship-to-ship transfer through the development and construction of the vessel and demonstration. 

Then, by utilising the vessel, ITOCHU will establish connection between the first movers in clean ammonia production and the first movers in the ammonia-fueled vessels and secure initial demand for ammonia as marine fuel, aiming at the commercialisation of ammonia bunkering business in Singapore and expansion of similar business model to major maritime transportation points around the world, including Spain (Strait of Gibraltar), Egypt (Suez Canal) and Japan.

 

Photo credit: ITOCHU Corporation
Published: 15 July 2025

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Biofuel

Chimbusco Pan Nation delivers first B30-MGO bio bunker fuel blend supply in Hong Kong

The supply, delivered to Orient Overseas Container Line, represents the first time OOCL has received this fuel blend in the region; operation also included a simultaneous delivery of B30-HSFO.

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Chimbusco Pan Nation delivers first B30-MGO bio bunker fuel blend supply in Hong Kong

Hong Kong-based marine fuel oil supplier Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical (CPN) on Friday (11 July) announced the first-ever delivery of a B30-Marine Gasoil (B30-MGO) which consists of 30% biodiesel and 70% Marine Gasoil (MGO), in Hong Kong. 

The supply, delivered to Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), represents the first time OOCL has received this fuel blend in the region.

In addition to the B30-MGO, this operation included a simultaneous delivery of B30-High Sulphur Marine Fuel Oil.

“This delivery, completed on 11 July, solidifies CPN’s leadership in advancing green fuel solutions in East Asia. Being the first bunker supplier in the region capable of providing all grades of ISCC-EU Certified marine biofuel, including marine fuel and gas oil, CPN demonstrates its commitment to supporting the maritime industry’s transition to sustainable energy,” the company said on its website. 

 

Photo credit: Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical
Published: 15 July, 2025

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