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:

• B100 back to a discount to HSFO with EU regs
• LNG rises to greater premiums over VLSFO and HSFO

Rotterdam’s VLSFO-equivalent B100 (100% biofuel) price has shifted from a $19/mt premium over HSFO last week to a $3/mt discount. These prices include estimated EU ETS carbon prices and FuelEU penalties for conventional fuels like HSFO, and an estimated pooling benefit for B100.

A $657/mt theoretical pooling benefit under FuelEU reduces the cost of VLSFO-equivalent B100 to $670/mt in Rotterdam. This price includes a Dutch HBE rebate, which has remained broadly steady at $356/mt, according to a PRIMA Markets assessment.

For vessels powered by dual-fuel Otto medium speed (Otto MS) LNG engines, bunkering VLSFO-equivalent fossil LNG in Rotterdam costs over $150/mt more than VLSFO – when accounting for EU compliance costs on EU-EU routes.

For scrubber-fitted dual-fuel Otto MS vessels, LNG is now $210/mt costlier than HSFO, with estimated compliance costs factored into fuel prices.

Liquid fuels

Rotterdam’s VLSFO price has remained largely steady, declining by just $3/mt over the past week. The port’s VLSFO-equivalent B100 price has seen a slightly larger drop of $9/mt. These prices include estimated EU compliance costs and benefits, with B100’s price also factoring in the Dutch HBE rebates.

Singapore’s VLSFO benchmark has edged up by $3/mt this past week. VLSFO lead times now range between 3-12 days, compared to the recommended 5-12 days in the previous week.

Liquid gases

Rotterdam’s VLSFO-equivalent LNG price has ended its downward streak, climbing $40/mt higher over the past week. This price includes estimated compliance costs for ships with an Otto MS engine on EU-EU voyage.

The price surge is attributed to a 4% increase in the front-month Dutch TTF Natural Gas contract, driven by “cold weather forecasts and expectations of low wind output in Central Europe next week," according to Energi Danmark.

Despite LNG’s price increase, liquefied biomethane (LBM) remains the cheapest compliance option in Rotterdam. Combined benefits from the EU ETS and from FuelEU’s pooling mechanism can reduce LBM costs to $587/mt when bunkered in Otto MS engines and $452/mt for diesel slow-speed (diesel SS) engines, giving it a cost advantage for intra-EU voyages.

Singapore’s VLSFO-equivalent LNG benchmark has dropped by $9/mt over the past week, amid expectations of easing geopolitical tensions.

By Konica Bhatt

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 18 March, 2025

Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration (Ningbo MSA) on Monday (17 March) said Ningbo Port completed its first biofuel bunkering operation of an international ship on 15 March. 

Bunkering vessel Si Jie 21 successfully refuelled the container ship COSCO Italy with 1,600 metric tonnes (mt) of B24 biofuel at the Chuanshan Port area of Ningbo Zhoushan Port.

The B24 biofuel used in this operation comprises a blend of 24% used cooking oil methyl ester (UCOME) and 76% fuel oil and is expected to reduce the ship's carbon emissions by approximately 20%.

“At present, the International Maritime Organization has put forward higher requirements on carbon emissions from ships. It is also a general trend to promote the green and low-carbon transformation of the shipping industry,” said a representative of the Hazardous Materials Management and Pollution Prevention Department of Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration.

“Biofuel bunkering is one of the ways. This has positive significance for the development of China's shipping industry and the protection of the ecological environment.”

In order to ensure the safe and orderly progress of the bunkering operation, Ningbo MSA set up a special team to actively explore and study measures to ensure the safety of bunkering operations, and guide bunkering units to carry out special research on navigation safety and risk identification of ship-to-ship bunkering operations.

Ningbo MSA added the successful completion of this bunkering operation marked that Ningbo-Zhoushan Port Ningbo Port has successfully joined the ranks of the few ports in China that have the ability to provide both LNG and biofuel bunkering services.

Photo credit: Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration
Published: 18 March, 2025

COSCO Shipping Lines recently said it achieved major milestones after setting two new records for biofuel bunkering in Fujian and Hong Kong. 

Its container vessel COSCO ASIA took on 2,400 metric tonnes (mt) of B24 biofuel at Xiamen Ocean Gate Container Terminal, setting a new single-refuelling record for biofuel oil at Fujian Port. 

In another operation, COSCO Shipping said its XIN LOS ANGELES refuelled with 5,400 mt at the Hong Kong terminal, marking a milestone for biofuel oil refueling in Hong Kong.

In addition to these recent operations, the company highlighted its other biofuel milestones including  COSCO ASIA achieving a milestone by bunkering 3,850 mt of B24 biofuel in June last year at Shekou Port in Shenzhen. COSCO Shipping said the operation was “the largest single marine biofuel bunkering in China” at the time.

Two months later, Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), a subsidiary of COSCO SHIPPING Holdings, collaborated with partners to initiate a low-carbon shipping initiative, substituting fossil fuels with the B24 biofuel blend to diminish carbon emissions across the supply chain.

Related: OOCL and partners opt for B24 biofuel blend to reduce supply chain emissions

Photo credit: COSCO Shipping Lines
Published: 17 March, 2025