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Brazil launches public consultation on biofuel bunkering rules overhaul

Law firm Mayer Brown says Brazil’s ANP has launched a 45-day public consultation on proposed revisions to the country’s marine fuel specifications, paving the way for routine use of up to 100% biofuel.

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Jeff Doria on Unsplash

Law firm Mayer Brown on Tuesday (28 July) said Brazil’s National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) has launched a 45-day public consultation on proposed revisions to the country’s marine fuel specifications, paving the way for routine use of up to 100% biofuel (B100) in vessels while streamlining biofuel blending requirements

On July 27, 2026, Brazil’s National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (“ANP”) published Public Consultation and Hearing Notice No. 15/2026, for the review of ANP Resolution No. 903/2022, which establishes the specifications for waterborne fuels marketed in Brazilian territory (marine diesel oil and marine fuel oil).

The purpose is to incorporate biofuels and renewable fuels into Brazilian waterborne transport, in the context of the energy transition and the International Maritime Organization’s (“IMO”) international decarbonization targets.

The proposal (i) aligns national specifications with ISO 8217/2024; and (ii) is encouraged by the progress of IMO discussions on carbon pricing and incentives for new fuels.

In terms of market context, operations involving the use of biofuels in Brazilian waterborne transport already exist, such that harmonizing national rules with ISO 8217 and the MARPOL Convention will standardize the regulatory treatment applicable to these operations.

The main changes proposed in the draft resolution are as follows.

  • The specification tables for waterborne fuels will be restructured, including classes for fuels containing biodiesel.
  • Limits and test methods from ISO 8217/2024 will be selectively incorporated, on a partial basis, in line with Brazilian market realities.
  • Biodiesel content of up to 100% (“B100”) for regular use in vessels (no longer as an exception), which could be sold directly to the end user.
  • Green diesel (“HVO”) and synthetic/GTL (Gas-to-Liquids) fuels will be treated as “drop-in” components, meaning chemically similar to fossil fuels and capable of replacing them without requiring engine or infrastructure adaptation.
  • Agents authorized to carry out biofuel blending will be defined, which eliminates the requirement for prior ANP authorization to use blends, replacing it with a simple notification to the Agency.
  • Quality control, document traceability, sampling, certification, and fuel identification rules will be improved, in line with the MARPOL Convention.
  • Prior experimental authorization from ANP will be provided for alternative fuels not covered by ISO 8217 (ethanol, methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen).
  • A prior authorization regime will be established for liquefied natural gas (“LNG”), without an experimental character, given the existence of well-established technical standards and the early stage of Brazil’s national LNG transport and supply infrastructure.

The public consultation will run for 45 days, from July 28 to September 10, 2026. On September 23, 2026, a public hearing will be held to discuss the matter with civil society and regulated agents.

 

Photo credit: Jeff Doria on Unsplash
Published: 31 July, 2026

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Alternative Fuels

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 4% on year in August 2026

4.77 million metric tonnes of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in August, up from 4.97 million mt recorded during the similar month in 2025, according to MPA.

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Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 4% on year in August 2026

Sales of marine fuel at Singapore port fell by 4% on year in August 2026, according to data from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

In total, 4.77 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,772,700 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in August, up from 4.97 million mt (4,965,300 mt) recorded during the similar month in 2025.

Deliveries of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in August (against on year) recorded respectively 2.1 million mt (11.1% from 1.89 million mt), 2.19 million mt (-12.4% from 2.50 million mt), zero (from zero), zero (-100% from 1,800 mt) and zero (from zero).

Bunker Sales

Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in August, (against on year) recorded respectively 8,700 mt (-74.9% from 34,700 mt), 47,900 mt (-48.9% from 93,800 mt), zero (from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from zero). B100 biofuel bunkers, introduced in February last year, recorded 800 mt (-83.3% from 4,800 mt). 

LNG and methanol sales were 58,600 mt (-12.5% from 67,000 mt) and zero (from zero) respectively. There were no recorded sales of ammonia for the month and so far since 2025.

 

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 15 September, 2026

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Alternative Fuels

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: Gas supply risks lift Rotterdam’s LNG and LBM

B30-LSMGO swings to $37/mt discount to LNG (Otto MS); Singapore LNG (diesel SS) discount to LSMGO widens; ZRE A tickets surge on aggressive compliance buying.

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ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: Gas supply risks lift Rotterdam's LNG and LBM

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:

14 September 2026

  • B30-LSMGO swings to $37/mt discount to LNG (Otto MS)
  • Singapore LNG (diesel SS) discount to LSMGO widens
  • ZRE A tickets surge on aggressive compliance buying

Rotterdam’s B30-LSMGO has swung from a $90/mt premium over LNG burnt in Otto medium speed (Otto MS) engines to a $37/mt discount, as LNG has gained $150/mt over the past week against the blend’s $24/mt.

Liquefied biomethane’s (LBM) premiums over HSFO in Rotterdam have widened by $105-107/mt to $348-487/mt depending on engine type, and over VLSFO by $90-92/mt to $233-372/mt.

LBM’s discounts to LSMGO have narrowed by $6-8/mt to $261-400/mt. Its premiums over B100 have widened by $84-86/mt to $271-411/mt.

Rotterdam’s LNG premiums over VLSFO have widened by $95-97/mt to $356-492/mt depending on engine type, and LNG’s discounts to LSMGO have narrowed by $11-13/mt to $141-277/mt.

In Singapore, LNG’s premiums over VLSFO have narrowed by $1-2/mt to $255-323/mt, and its discounts to LSMGO have widened by $85-86/mt to $88-155/mt. The wider discount is for vessels with diesel slow speed (diesel SS) engines.

Fuel Switch Snapshot: Gas supply risks lift Rotterdam's LNG and LBM

B100’s premium over HSFO in Rotterdam has widened by $21/mt to $76/mt while its discount to VLSFO has narrowed by $6/mt to $39/mt. Its discount to LSMGO has widened by $78/mt to $672/mt.

Singapore’s B100 has widened its premium over VLSFO by $14/mt to $280/mt and its discount to LSMGO by $70/mt to $130/mt.

ENGINE-assessed FuelEU Maritime pooling values have eased by $1/mt for both B100 and LBM, the smaller credits adding to each fuel’s gains, while the OceanScore FuelEU pooling index has held at €118.90/mtCO2e ($138/mtCO2e).

Liquid fuels

Rotterdam’s conventional fuel prices have gained $38-137/mt over the past week, with LSMGO up the most and its benchmark at the highest level in at least four years.

B100 has gained $59/mt and B30-VLSFO $64/mt.

Dutch ZRE A tickets have moved up by €21/mtCO2e ($24/mtCO2e) to €200/mtCO2e ($232/mtCO2e) over the past week. Compliance buyers rather than speculators have driven the increase, Prima Markets analyst Ulrich Arnheiter said.

Conventional bunker fuel availability in the ARA is tight for prompt deliveries, with lead times of 5-7 days advised for most grades, a trader said.

Singapore’s conventional fuel prices have gained $49-133/mt, again with LSMGO up the most, and B100 has gained $63/mt.

Supply in Singapore has remained constrained despite subdued demand, with VLSFO lead times of 12-15 days against 9-16 days a week earlier.

Front-month ICE Brent futures have rallied $10.53/bbl ($77/mt) higher to $108.72/bbl ($797/mt), lifted by vessel attacks near the Strait of Hormuz and Saudi Arabia halting flows through its East-West Pipeline. Dec26 EUA prices have risen by $2.99/mtCO2e to $102.47/mtCO2e.

Liquid gases

Rotterdam’s LNG prices have gained $148-150/mt depending on engine type over the past week, and the port’s LBM prices $143-145/mt, tracking a sharp rise in the front-month Dutch TTF gas contract.

How long the Strait of Hormuz stays closed remains the single most important supply-side uncertainty, IEA gas analyst Greg Molnár said.

Rotterdam’s LBM discounts to LNG have widened by $5/mt to $119-124/mt depending on engine type.

Singapore’s LNG prices have gained $46-47/mt depending on engine type, tracking the front-month NYMEX Japan/Korea Marker.

LNG importers continue to seek cargoes with no resolution of the Middle East conflict in sight, ANZ Bank senior commodity strategist Daniel Hynes said.

By Erik Hoffmann

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 15 September, 2026

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Engine

Polaris Shipping orders WinGD engines capable of running on methanol, ethanol

Ability to operate on either fuel gives Polaris Shipping greater flexibility to respond to changes in fuel availability, pricing and regulatory requirements over the vessels’ operating lives.

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Polaris Shipping orders WinGD engines capable of running on methanol, ethanol

Swiss marine power company WinGD on Thursday (10 September) said it has won a contract that will give Polaris Shipping true fuel flexibility for its future Newcastlemax fleet with an order of four X72DF-M-1.0 engines that can operate on methanol and ethanol. 

The ability to operate on either fuel gives Polaris Shipping greater flexibility to respond to changes in fuel availability, pricing and regulatory requirements over the vessels’ operating lives and is a key benefit of WinGD’s alcohol-fuel engine platform.

The WinGD engines will power four 210,000 DWT Ore carriers being built for Polaris Shipping at Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co in China, with delivery scheduled for 2031. 

Dr. Carmelo Cartalemi, Head of Strategic Marketing, WinGD, said “Shipowners are looking for flexible solutions to help them meet their decarbonisation goals without compromising on reliability, safety or financial stability. 

“Our alcohol-fuel engine platform enables ships to operate on either ethanol or methanol, giving shipowners and managers the option to select the fuel that best fits their operational and commercial requirements. With fuel markets and regulations continuing to evolve, that flexibility can be a valuable asset over the lifetime of a vessel.”

The X72DF-M1.0 can run on methanol and ethanol. This provides flexibility between the two fuels, while maintaining compliance with the regulatory requirements applicable to both fuels.

WinGD will also provide dedicated service and lifecycle support for the new alcohol fuels, helping shipowners and operators build familiarity with the technology, optimise operation and maintenance, and adopt methanol and ethanol propulsion in a safe and economically sustainable way

Polaris Shipping, said: “Fuel availability and economics will continue to evolve over the lifetime of these vessels. Selecting an engine platform that gives us access to both methanol and ethanol means we can provide to our charter a greater choice in how the ships are operated in the future, rather than having to predict today which fuel will be most competitive in the years ahead. 

“We’re investing for the long-term, and this engine choice gives us the confidence to do that.”

The order adds to WinGD orderbook of alternative fuel engine technology, which now spans LNG, methanol, ethanol and ammonia. Beihai Shipyard is also working with WinGD on the installation of its ammonia-fuelled engine for CMB TECH’s newbuild 210,000 dwt dry bulk carriers. 

 

Photo credit: WinGD
Published: 11 September, 2026

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