Uni-Fuels Holdings (Uni-Fuels), the ultimate parent of Singapore-based marine fuels trading and brokerage firm Uni-Fuels Pte Ltd, on Tuesday (14 January) announced the pricing of its underwritten initial public offering of 2,100,000 Class A Ordinary Shares at a public offering price of USD 4.00 per share, for total gross proceeds of USD 8.4 million to the company, before underwriting discounts and commissions. 

All of the Class A Ordinary Shares are being offered by Uni-Fuels. The Class A Ordinary Shares began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “UFG” on 14 January. The Offering is expected to close on 15 January subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Uni-Fuels has granted the Underwriters an option to purchase up to 315,000 additional Class A Ordinary Shares within 45 days of the effective date of the company’s registration statement in relation to the IPO.

The total proceeds from the offering are expected to be approximately USD 9.66 million, if the Underwriters exercise their option to purchase the additional Class A Ordinary Shares in full.

Uni-Fuels intends to use the proceeds from the IPO for scaling up its reselling activities to gain market share from existing and new markets; for strengthening its workforce and expanding its market presence in new geographical locations; and cash reserve and general corporate purposes.

A registration statement on Form F-1 relating to the shares being sold in IPO was initially filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on 28 October 2024; and was declared effective by the SEC on 10 January 2025.

Manifold Times previously reported Uni-Fuels announcing its plans for an IPO on Nasdaq Capital Market.

Related: Marine fuels trading, broking firm Uni-Fuels Holdings files for IPO on Nasdaq

Photo credit: Uni-Fuels Holdings
Published: 15 January, 2025

Maritime data, insights and analytics provider Lloyd’s List Intelligence (LLI) on Tuesday (14 January) announced the acquisition of Infospectrum, an independent provider of counterparty risk appraisal reports & data, due diligence research and KYC intelligence.

The acquisition expands LLI’s ability to deliver analysis and risk management intelligence solutions. 

The integration of Infospectrum’s comprehensive counterparty risk appraisal, due diligence and KYC intelligence capabilities and data, will enable the combined business to provide customers with more accurate, reliable, and timely risk based decision-making solutions. 

With the maritime sector facing increasing complexity from global sanctions, compliance, safety, geo-political and legal considerations, the combination will enable LLI to build solutions that deliver actionable insights and help customers successfully navigate key use cases associated with compliance, risk management and operations.

“The acquisition of Infospectrum is an important milestone for Lloyd’s List Intelligence,” said Michael Dell, CEO, Lloyd’s List Intelligence. 

“This acquisition is a significant step forward in our mission to provide the most comprehensive and insightful risk intelligence solutions that support the global maritime industry. By combining our respective strengths, we will deliver stronger capabilities to our customers and enhance our ability to act as a provider of mission critical data, insights and analytics for the maritime sector as a whole.”

“We are excited to join forces with Lloyd’s List Intelligence,” said Panos Panousis, Managing Director, Infospectrum. 

“This combination will unlock significant opportunities for both companies and provide the maritime ecosystem with access to a broader range of data, analytics, and intelligence. We are confident that together we will accelerate innovation and deliver exceptional solutions to the maritime industry.”

Photo credit: Lloyd’s List Intelligence
Published: 14 January, 2025

Zhoushan Hi-Tech Zone Administrative Committee on Friday (10 January) said Zhoushan, the fourth largest bunkering port of the world, delivered 7.26 million metric tonnes (mt) of marine fuel in 2024.

This marked about a 3% increase from 7.04 million mt in 2023. 

The committee also highlighted the progress Zhoushan Port has made in the past year including actively planning to build an alternative fuel bunkering centre.

It has successfully obtained approval for the national biodiesel promotion and application pilot project. The construction of a project to produce an annual 1 million mt of marine biodiesel has begun.

The first methanol vehicle-to-ship pilot was carried out, and the first methanol bunkering barge in Zhoushan was officially built and is expected to be put into use by the end of 2025.

The port has also improved the fuel supply efficiency of various bunkering anchorages in Zhoushan including Tiaozhumen Anchorage adding three bunkering anchorages on top of the original five and has successfully carried out night bunkering operations. 

Xiushandong and Mazhi anchorages have added a total of three new bonded bunkering anchorages, which can implement all-weather and fully automatic anchorage reservations, and provide advance reservations and priority refueling services for large ships and large orders.

The committee also highlighted Dong Fang Zhao Yang becoming the first domestic bunkering barge to obtain the mass flow meter system certification under the ISO22192:2021 standard. The barge conducted a successful pilot for the bunkering of bonded fuel oil using a mass flow meter at Xiushandong Anchorage on 9 December. 

A spokesperson of the committee said Zhoushan will focus on promoting alternative bunker fuels such as biofuel and LNG and accelerating the completion of methanol refuelling safety assessments.

Related: IPEC 2024: Zhoushan port records 7.04 million mt annual bunker volume for 2023
Related: China: Zhoushan Port launches night bunkering ops in Tiaozhoumen outer anchorage
Related: China: Zhoushan shortlisted for national pilot project to promote biodiesel bunker fuel
Related: China: Zhoushan completes pilot bonded bunkering op with mass flow meter

Photo credit: Zhoushan Hi-Tech Zone Administrative Committee
Published: 14 January, 2025