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Alternative Fuels

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: LNG and LBM drop against conventional fuels in major ports

LBM discounts to VLSFO and LSMGO widen in Rotterdam; Singapore’s LNG diesel SS discount to LSMGO tops $1,000/mt; B100-LBM spread narrows sharply for Otto MS engines.

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ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: LNG and LBM drop against conventional fuels in major ports

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:

16 March 2026

  • LBM discounts to VLSFO and LSMGO widen in Rotterdam
  • Singapore’s LNG diesel SS discount to LSMGO tops $1,000/mt
  • B100-LBM spread narrows sharply for Otto MS engines

Sharp drops in LNG and liquefied biomethane (LBM) bunker prices have improved the economics of the methane-based alternatives against conventional fuels for dual-fuel vessels bunkering in Rotterdam and Singapore.

In Rotterdam, LNG’s premium over VLSFO has fallen by $200/mt to $32/mt when bunkered by vessels with Otto medium speed (Otto MS) engines. For vessels with diesel slow speed (diesel SS) engines, LNG has shifted to a $167/mt discount to VLSFO, coming from a $31/mt premium a week ago.

LNG’s discounts to LSMGO in Rotterdam have widened by $122–123/mt to $272–471/mt over the past week.

LBM has made a bigger fall than conventional fuels in Rotterdam. Its discounts to LSMGO have expanded by $111–112/mt to a hefty $662–867/mt, while discounts to VLSFO have widened by $187–189/mt to $358–563/mt, depending on the gas engine type.

In Singapore, LNG’s discounts to VLSFO have widened by $181–182/mt to $334-434/mt. Its discounts to LSMGO have expanded by $51–52/mt to $946–1,045/mt.

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: LNG and LBM drop against conventional fuels in major ports

Rotterdam’s B100 has slipped back to discounts against pure HSFO and VLSFO after briefly being at premiums a week ago.

Rotterdam’s B100 premium over LBM has narrowed by $150/mt to $34/mt for dual-fuel vessels with Otto MS engines.

For vessels with low-methane-slip diesel SS engines, LBM is still cheaper than B100, although the discount has narrowed by $151/mt to $239/mt.

Liquid fuels

Rotterdam’s HSFO and VLSFO prices have gained $36–68/mt, while its LSMGO price has edged $9/mt lower over the past week.

The port’s B100 price has dropped $271/mt lower, despite a $20/mtCO2e decline in Dutch ZRE-A tickets.B100 is now priced at $253-324/mt discounts to HSFO and VLSFO in Rotterdam, flipping from $14-53/mt premiums a week ago.

Singapore’s HSFO price has taken a $201/mt knock over the past week while its LSMGO price has dropped by a smaller $86/mt. VLSFO, meanwhile, has risen by $45/mt.

Singapore’s B100 price has declined by $35/mt over the past week, and its premium over pure VLSFO has narrowed by $79/mt to $120/mt.

Liquid gases

Rotterdam’s LNG bunker prices have declined $131-132/mt over the past week, largely due to a 15% decline in the front-month Dutch TTF Natural Gas contract. Its LBM prices have dropped by $120-121/mt.

The TTF price has fallen over subsiding concerns of a prolonged Middle East war and increased renewable energy generation in Europe.

LNG bunkering activity in Rotterdam declined in February. In the Netherlands, activity fell to 36 bunker operations in February, down from 43 in January. The drop was largely driven by container ships, with lower volumes from CMA CGM, Mediterranean Shipping Company and Hapag-Lloyd, according to Kpler.

LNG’s premium over LBM in Rotterdam has narrowed for a second straight week, this time by a slight $11/mt to $390-396/mt, depending on the engine type.

Singapore’s LNG bunker prices have dropped $136-137/mt over the past week. Weak spot gas demand in Asia and high stockpiles have added some downward pressure on the prices.

Singapore’s LNG bunker sales rebounded by 39% in February, after declining for three consecutive months.

Daily average LNG sales increased by about 700 mt/day to 2,100 mt/day in February. For the January-February period, total LNG sales reached nearly 102,000 mt, up from 63,000 mt during the same period last year.

By Konica Bhatt

 

Photo credit: ENGINE
Published: 17 March, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

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PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. 

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post. 

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024. 

 

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure.

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CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) recently signed a contract with Sinopec (Beijing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd. to build a 12,000-cubic metre (m3) LNG bunkering vessel, according to Chinese maritime media.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028 and will support Sinopec’s efforts to expand its presence in the marine clean energy sector.

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s LNG bunkering infrastructure.

With this signing , CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering’s LNG bunkering vessel orderbook is further strengthened, maintaining its leading position in the global market for small and medium-sized LNG bunkering vessels.

The contract also marked another milestone for CIMC SOE, which has seen a sharp increase in orders and business performance this year amid a surge in domestic LNG vessel demand.

 

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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Nuclear

ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

KRISO says AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.

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ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO) on Thursday (16 July) received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its concept design of a 15,000 TEU Small Modular Reactor (SMR)-powered container ship utilising Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) technology.

KRISO said the AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.

“This achievement demonstrates international recognition of KRISO’s technological capabilities in the rapidly evolving field of nuclear-powered shipping, supporting the transition toward low-carbon maritime transport,” it said. 

Building on this milestone, KRISO will continue advancing basic and detailed ship design, paving the way for future demonstration and commercialisation of SMR-powered vessels. 

Through continued R&D and international collaboration, KRISO remains committed to strengthening next-generation maritime technologies and contributing to the safe deployment of nuclear propulsion in the maritime industry.

 

Photo credit: Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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