Methanol bunkering operations have significantly expanded in various parts of the world. Several ports in Europe, Asia, and parts of North America have entered this field, and multiple physical suppliers are providing services in this area.
Expansion of Methanol Bunkering in Europe
In Europe, several methanol bunkering locations have been established. Companies TankMatch and UniBarge operate as physical suppliers in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region. Additionally, methanol bunkering operations have been reported in the ports of Gothenburg, Hamburg, and Immingham. The ports of Bremerhaven and Kiel have also shown varying readiness for these operations through initial trials.
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Companies Repsol and Mureloil are also ready to provide physical delivery of methanol in Spanish ports including Bilbao, Mugardos, and Barcelona.
Expansion in Asia
In Asia, a wide network of ports has engaged in methanol bunkering operations. Several ports in China, including Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Guangzhou, Qingdao, Dalian, and Shenzhen have joined this cycle. Suppliers such as CIMC Enric, SIPG Energy, and China Marine Bunker provide ship-to-ship delivery services in these ports. In Hong Kong, companies Sinopec and Chimbusco Pan Nation have been supplying bio-methanol.
Additionally, methanol bunkering operations have been conducted in the ports of Busan and Ulsan in South Korea, as well as Japanese ports including Yokohama and Kinu.
Challenges and Opportunities
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has issued five methanol bunkering licenses to companies PetroChina, Golden Island, and Global Energy Trading, which became effective in January. However, MPA reported no methanol sales in September, marking a continuous increase over seven months.
Port Houston in the United States also conducted a ship-to-ship methanol bunkering operation with 2000 tons of methanol to Tangier Maersk in March. The number of barges and chemical tankers capable of carrying methanol and providing ship-to-ship bunkering services has steadily increased in recent years.
Considering future needs, many ports are preparing for methanol demand. Ports VO Chidambaranar, Mumbai, and Kandla in India, Seattle, Tacoma, Long Beach, and Southern Louisiana in the United States, and Auckland in New Zealand are among the ports evaluating or developing methanol bunkering capabilities in the coming years.
Conclusion
The geographical expansion of methanol bunkering indicates that this industry is moving towards a broader network of supply locations. The next challenge is to convert this geographical access into reliability so that ships can receive methanol not only at previous locations but also at the time and place they need it.
Given current trends, the future of methanol bunkering in various global ports appears bright and is set to respond to increasing demand.
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