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Exclusive: Banle Group sets sights on expanding bunker supply network with successful IPO on Nasdaq

Following closing of CBL International Limited’s IPO on Nasdaq Capital Market, Banle Group revealed to Manifold Times its plans of enlarging the number of local marine fuel suppliers and increasing its bunkering options to customers.

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MT photos 13 February 2023 40

In an exclusive interview with Singapore-based bunkering publication Manifold Times, marine fuel logistics firm Banle Group recently shared insights on the recent successful listing of CBL International Limited, its listing vehicle, on the Nasdaq Capital Market. 

Mr. Teck Lim Chia, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer provides details on how much was raised in the initial public offering (IPO) and its plans on using the net proceeds to further grow and strengthen its bunkering business:

MT: Could you give our readers a brief introduction of the Banle Group? 

Banle Group is an established marine fuel logistic company in Asia Pacific providing customers with one stop solution for vessel refuelling. We are a bunkering facilitator as referred to in the bunkering industry.

Our main market is the Asia Pacific market with business activities taking place in the major ports of Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and other countries like Turkey, Belgium.

We currently have a network of over 40 ports in Asia Pacific region to supply marine fuel to our customers, making us one of the few bunkering facilitators that can provide network-based service in this part of the world.

We strive to provide our customers with the best quality bunker services and to become our customers’ best partner in providing tailor made and flexible solutions for vessel refuelling.

MT: How much was raised during the IPO? Was it USD 13.3million or oversubscribed at USD 15.3 million?

Initially, we offered 3,325,000 shares at an offering price of US$4 per share, raising USD 13.3 million. At the time of the IPO, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment in part for an additional 425,000 shares, hence, totalling 3,750,000 shares being offered, raising USD 15 million.

MT: During the announcement of the IPO, Banle said it intends to use the net proceeds to ‘enlarge the number of local suppliers to enhance its competitiveness’. Could Banle elaborate what this means to the bunkering industry? 

We intend to establish new business relationships with additional local bunker suppliers in additional ports for which we will need the financial resources to make payments in advance for transactions before those local suppliers consider offering any trade credit to us.

Making use of the proceeds from the IPO, we intend to commence the business relationships with the new suppliers who may request payment in advance, or the issuance of letter of credit for their sales of the marine fuel.

MT: Banle also announced it intends to use the net proceeds to ‘increase the service options available in the Singapore and South Korea markets’? How does this trickle down into Banle’s bunkering business?

We constantly receive inquiries from customers for quotations and orders. However, in the past, we may not be able to fulfil all enquiries due to limitation of financial resources or lacking sufficient local bunker supplies in certain ports. As mentioned above, with the proceeds from the IPO and the expansion of our network of supply, we are now in a better position to establish new business relationships with additional local supplies, which in turn, will increase our ability to provide more bunkering options to our customers.

MT: In relation to the above two questions above on Banle’s intentions on utilising the funds, what is Banle’s plan to turn them into reality?

We intend to penetrate the market by soliciting new marine fuel suppliers to capture the demand from our existing customers or new customers in the Singapore market. In particular, we intend to establish such new business relationships with local suppliers for which we might need to pay in advance for transactions. To facilitate market development in Singapore, we have set up a new office in Singapore and employed two staff members.

Similar to Singapore, it is a challenge for us to obtain trade credit from local suppliers without established business relationships. With our aim to strengthen our supply network in South Korea, we plan to develop business relationships with potential suppliers in Ulsan and other ports in South Korea in order for us to provide a more flexible supply network to meet the demand of our existing customers and potential customers. To facilitate market development in South Korea, we have employed one staff member who is based in South Korea.

MT: Can you describe the challenges to execute Banle’s expansion plans and how will the company overcome them in current market conditions?

The fluctuations in marine fuel price may affect our working capital requirements. If the marine fuel prices increase substantially, we could only purchase less marine fuel from our suppliers with the same level of financial resources. We are therefore vulnerable to such unfavourable changes from the fluctuation of marine fuel prices. In the event that there is a significant increase in the price of marine fuel, we might require additional working capital in order to fulfil our customers’ needs.

To mitigate the effects of working capital limitation and unexpected increase in marine fuel price, it is our strategy to strengthen the financial resources available to us by utilising bank facilities and to obtain better trade credit from our suppliers.

 

Photo credit: Banle Group
Published: 13 June, 2023

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Winding up

Singapore: Annual general meetings scheduled for Xihe Holdings subsidiaries

Development includes Da Xin Tankers, Dong Sheng Tankers, Dong Ya Tankers and Hua Zhong Shipping; meetings will be held electronically on 7 and 8 May, according to Government Gazette notices.

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RESIZED Drew Beamer

Several notices were published on the Government Gazette on Tuesday (22 April) regarding the annual general meetings of the companies and creditors to be held electronically on 22 April for Xihe Holdings subsidiaries.

The subsidiaries are Dong Sheng Tankers Pte Ltd, Da Xin Tankers Pte Ltd, Dong Ya Tankers Pte Ltd, and Hua Zhong Shipping Pte Ltd.

Annual general meeting for Dong Sheng Tankers are to be held on 8 May at the following times:

For the company: 2pm

Annual general meetings for Da Xin Tankers are to be held on 7 May at the following times:

For the company: 10am
For the creditors: 11am

Annual general meetings for Dong Ya Tankers are to be held on 8 May at the following times:

For the company: 10am
For the creditors: 11am

Annual general meetings for Hua Zhong Shipping are to be held on 7 May at the following times:

For the company: 2pm
For the creditors: 3pm

The agenda for all the meetings are:

  • To receive an update on the liquidation. 
  • To receive an account of the Liquidators’ acts and dealings, and of the conduct of the winding up

Manifold Times previously reported on the winding up of Da Xin Tankers, Dong Ya Tankers and Hua Zhong Shipping Pte Ltd and the appointment of the joint and several liquidators of the firms. 

Related: Singapore: Da Xin Tankers, Dong Ya Tankers, Hua Zhong Shipping to be wound up

 

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 23 April, 2025

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LNG Bunkering

Osaka Gas launches shore-to-ship LNG bunkering service at its terminal

Company says it is the first gas utility company in Japan to offer LNG bunker fuel at its terminal to vessels and is also exploring the potential of replacing LNG with e-methane as a marine fuel.

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Osaka Gas launches shore-to-ship LNG bunkering service at its terminal

Osaka Gas on Monday (21 April) said it has launched its shore-to-ship LNG bunkering service, becoming the first gas utility company in Japan to offer liquefied natural gas (LNG) at its terminal to vessels.

The first delivery took place today at Osaka Gas’ Senboku LNG Terminal in Takaishi City, Osaka Prefecture, where LNG was supplied to Verde Heraldo, a bulker operated by Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL). 

Manifold Times previously reported that the bulker will sail under long-term transport contracts to supply raw materials for JFE Steel Corporation's mills. 

With the launch of the shore-to-ship service, in addition to its existing truck-to-ship LNG bunkering service—operational since 2019—Osaka Gas enhances its LNG fuel delivery capabilities to address the current scarcity of facilities in Japan that can supply LNG to vessels. 

The company’s future plans include the introduction of a ship-to-ship LNG bunkering service utilising a dedicated LNG bunkering vessel, scheduled to commence in fiscal 2026.

These supply methods aim to provide a stable and flexible LNG fuel supply to an increasing number of LNG-fuelled vessels as the maritime industry transitions away from heavy fuel oil.

This growth in LNG-fuelled vessels is driven by global decarbonisation trends and the International Maritime Organization’s target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Through its LNG bunkering services, Osaka Gas is well-positioned to contribute to maritime industry sustainability.

Osaka Gas launches shore-to-ship LNG bunkering service at its terminal

In addition to expanding LNG fuel supply to vessels, Osaka Gas is exploring the potential of replacing LNG with e-methane as a marine fuel. 

Related: New MOL vessel to be supplied LNG bunker fuel in Japan before voyage to Australia

 

Photo credit: Osaka Gas
Published: 23 April, 2025

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Alternative Fuels

Japan: J-ENG begins co-firing of first full-scale marine engine with ammonia

Company says the first Japanese-developed and manufactured commercial full-scale, low-speed, ammonia-fuelled two-stroke engine has started co-firing operation with ammonia.

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Japan: J-ENG begins co-firing of first full-scale marine engine with ammonia

Japan Engine Corporation (J-ENG) on Monday (21 April) said the first Japanese-developed and manufactured commercial full-scale, low-speed, ammonia-fuelled two-stroke engine has started co-firing operation with ammonia, which will be installed in a vessel. 

J-ENG is developing the engine under the “Green Innovation Fund Project: Next-generation Ship Development” of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). 

Since May 2023, when J-ENG started the world's first ammonia co-firing operation of a large, low-speed, two-stroke engine in a test engine, J-ENG has obtained many results and knowledge, including stable operation at high ammonia co-firing rates and safe handling of ammonia, through various test operations over a period of about a year and a half. 

J-ENG will conduct verification operations on the full-scale engine and plans to ship the engine in October of this year. The engine will be installed on an Ammonia-fuelled Medium Gas Carrier (AFMGC) and then demonstration operations of the vessel will be carried out then.

In order to accommodate a wide variety of ammonia-fueled vessels, J-ENG is also concurrently developing an ammonia-fueled engine with a cylinder bore of 60cm, following the first engine with a 50cm cylinder bore mentioned above, for several promising follow-on projects.

Furthermore, after achieving the development and social implementation of these engines, the company has decided to construct a new plant with the support of a subsidy project by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism through the GX Economic Transition Bonds. 

The new plant, which is scheduled for completion in 2028, will expand the production of ammonia fuel engines (in the product mix with fuel oil engines) and promote the spread and expansion of zero-emission ships.

“J-ENG, as a first mover of next-generation fuel engines, will contribute to the development of the Japanese shipping and shipbuilding industries through the early launch and expansion of these engines, and at the same time, contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) in international shipping and the achievement of carbon neutrality by 2050,” the company said on its website.

 

Photo credit: Japan Engine Corporation
Published: 23 April, 2025

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