Shipping company secures fixed-rate e-methanol supply ahead of EU climate regulations

March 2, 2026, by Nadja Skopljak

European shipping company RFOcean has signed a binding long-term off-take agreement with ETFuels to purchase e-methanol at a fixed price from 2030.

According to ETFuels, the agreement positions RFOcean ahead of binding and punitive new EU maritime emissions rules, the FuelEU Maritime regulation, which came into force in 2025, under which shipping companies face escalating penalties if they do not reduce the carbon intensity of their fleet.

“This isn’t just about compliance, it’s about competitive positioning,” said Frederik Rye-Florentz, CEO of RFOcean. “We believe compliant fuel will be scarce. By locking in supply now at fixed prices, we can offer our customers certainty and be in the forefront of a development which makes commercial sense today.”

The off-take agreement will see eight new diesel-electric-powered, methanol-ready/fitted chemical tankers that RFOcean has on order have access to compliant fuel at predictable prices.

“This is a landmark transaction,” said Lara Naqushbandi, CEO of ETFuels. “It shows that astute shipping companies are willing to move early and lock in green fuel supply. The deal also sends a clear message to policymakers: stable regulations unlock investment. Any weakening of the EU’s green fuel standards would undermine momentum at exactly the wrong time.”