Rotterdam-based storage terminal owner VTTI, co-owned by Vitol, IFM, and Adnoc, on Thursday (9 July) said its Dalian terminal has successfully completed its first commercial vessel loading of large-scale green methanol, marking an important milestone under its long-term green methanol storage and handling contract. 

This milestone represents an important step in establishing Northeast China as a key logistics hub for sustainable marine fuels. 

The cargo will be supplied as marine fuel upon arrival in Shanghai, supporting the development of low-carbon shipping. 

Janice Kuan, Senior Vice President Commercial at VTTI, said: “This milestone reflects our continued commitment to enabling the energy transition. By supporting long-term green methanol storage and handling at VTTI Dalian, we are helping our partners build reliable supply chains for cleaner marine fuels while advancing VTTI’s strategy to lead in sustainable infrastructure.” 

Strategically located at Dalian Port – the only main port for Northeast China – VTTI Dalian is an independent public terminal serving chemical producers and traders inland. 

With four jetties for vessels up to 50,000 DWT, dedicated chemical storage, and multimodal access, the terminal is a critical logistics hub for sustainable fuel distribution.

Photo credit: VTTI
Published: 10 July, 2026

Global marine energy supplier Peninsula on Wednesday (8 July) announced the establishment of I&P Marine Ammonia Ltd. (IPMA), a joint venture with ITOCHU Corporation, to accelerate the development of ammonia marine fuel bunkering across key European ports.

IPMA has been created to promote the supply of ammonia as a next-generation zero carbon marine fuel, with an initial focus on major strategic European and Mediterranean hubs. These locations represent critical regions in global maritime logistics and will play a central role in enabling the adoption of alternative fuels at scale.

The formation of IPMA builds directly on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Peninsula and ITOCHU in September 2023, which established a framework for the joint development of ammonia bunkering infrastructure and supply chains.

Manifold Times previously reported the European Commission (EC) approving the creation of a joint venture by ITOCHU and Peninsula under the EU Merger Regulation.

“Ammonia is widely seen as the most reasonable option among zero‑carbon marine fuel alternatives, supporting the shipping industry’s transition in line with increasingly stringent regulatory and environmental requirements,” Peninsula said.

“The creation of IPMA marks a significant step towards the commercialisation of ammonia as a marine fuel.”

Peninsula has been advancing the alternative fuels landscape, with established capabilities across LNG, Bio LNG, biofuels and other alternative solutions such as methanol and ammonia. This joint venture represents a natural progression of the company’s strategy to provide customers with practical, scalable decarbonisation pathways.

The partnership combines Peninsula’s global bunkering expertise, an established global supply network and deep customer relationships covering over 500 ports across all major bunkering hubs with ITOCHU’s integrated approach, spanning fuel production and supply chain development.

“Together, Itochu and Peninsula will combine these strengths to develop a robust ammonia bunkering framework, pairing upstream supply and infrastructure with the customer-facing expertise required to deliver ammonia as bunker fuel reliably at scale,” the company added. 

With an initial focus on Europe, IPMA is well positioned to accelerate the emergence of an operational ammonia marine fuel supply chain, complementing and reinforcing the broader industry initiatives already underway across the region.

Related: EC gives green light on Itochu-Peninsula ammonia bunkering joint venture
Related: Spain: Itochu, Peninsula enter MOU for joint development of ammonia bunkering in Gibraltar Strait

Photo credit: Peninsula
Published: 9 July, 2026

Evos and HyFive on Wednesday (8 July) said they have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to explore the storage and handling of e-methanol in the Port of Rotterdam, which is expected to be produced by HyFive’s HyMet Musel project in northern Spain.

Under this non-binding agreement, Evos and HyFive will assess potential technical and commercial parameters, including logistics interfaces and operational requirements.

The LOI follows Evos’ recently announced expansion project for low-carbon methanol and ethanol storage in the port. The project includes the construction of five new storage tanks with a combined gross capacity of 67,500 cubic metres, a new pump station and a new jetty to be built by the Port of Rotterdam Authority. 

Once operational in early 2028, the expansion will give Evos Rotterdam greater capacity to handle methanol and ethanol for industrial customers, as well as for the developing market in cleaner, low-carbon marine fuels and bunkering.

HyFive’s HyMet Musel project on Spain’s Atlantic coast is planned with a production capacity of 100,000 tonnes per year, with start-up targeted from 2029. HyFive has signed a comprehensive term sheet for a significant portion of the initial production volumes and continues commercial discussions with potential offtakers, including shipping companies active in the ARA region.

Alberto Sanchez de Rojas, General Manager, HyFive, said: “We are pleased to sign this LOI with Evos to explore a potential supply route for e‑methanol from our HyMet Musel project. While this is an initial step, it is an important milestone in assessing downstream infrastructure options that could help meet growing demand for cleaner marine fuels in the ARA region.”

Christiaan Kop, Evos Rotterdam Managing Director, said: “We welcome the opportunity to explore, through this potential partnership with HyFive, how our Rotterdam terminal could support future e‑methanol flows into the ARA region. We see strong long‑term momentum behind low‑carbon fuels, and we continue to invest in infrastructure that can help our customers and partners navigate the energy transition.”

Related: Evos Rotterdam starts construction on methanol and ethanol expansion project

Photo credit: Evos Rotterdam
Published: 9 July, 2026