MB Energy says that it has received approval from the Hamburg Authority for the Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture (BUKEA) for the construction and operation of a new ammonia import terminal. Subject to final investment approval, the facility is planned for the Blumensand tank farm site in the Port of Hamburg.
The effective closure of the Straits of Hormuz by Iran in the wake of US and Israeli attacks has sent shockwaves through all markets, but sulphur has been particularly badly affected. While the Straits carry 22% of global phosphate exports and 35% of urea, for sulphur around 45% of the 39 million tonnes transported internationally every year must traverse the narrow waterway, with major suppliers like Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia relying upon it for their export cargoes.
Polymer manufacturer Covestro has signed a memorandum of understanding with ammonia and urea exporter Fertiglobe and chemical producer TA’ZIZ to explore collaboration across the ammonia and nitric acid value chains. The MoU reflects the parties’ shared interest in assessing both near-term supply solutions and longer-term opportunities supporting the transition toward lower-carbon production pathways. The agreement was signed during the visit of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to the UAE.
Pilbara Ports has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Yara Pilbara for low carbon ammonia bunkering. The companies have agreed to collaborate on government and stakeholder advocacy, develop a training program for safe ammonia handling, and are planning the necessary fuelling infrastructure at Dampier and Port Hedland ports as part of the Pilbara Clean Fuel Bunkering Initiative.
In just its first two months, 2026 had already managed to be a rollercoaster of a year, but at the start of March, the onset of hostilities against Iran by the US and Israel has managed to deliver another huge shock to markets, particularly commodities. Iran’s strategy of widening the conflict to neighbouring states, including by attacking Qatar’s massive LNG facility at Ras Laffan, effectively shutting it down, has sent the LNG market into chaos, and attacks on several tankers and other ships have paralysed maritime insurance markets and by default achieved the long-feared closure of the Straits of Hormuz.
Methanol’s phenomenal growth in the early years of the century was based on its uptake into fuel uses and its ability to bridge coal reserves with plastics production in China. However, with these sectors maturing, traditional chemical end uses are becoming the main growth sector once again.
CF Industries has signed a memorandum of understanding with Trafigura and TFG Marine, a leading global marine fuel supplier, to facilitate the adoption of low-carbon ammonia as a marine fuel. Building on previous collaboration between CF Industries and Trafigura in the shipment of low-carbon ammonia, this agreement establishes a framework for the parties to work together on advancing low-carbon ammonia as a marine fuel, supporting the global shipping industry’s emissions-reduction efforts, including market development, stakeholder engagement, and bunkering logistics planning. The collaboration will initially focus on the U.S. Gulf Coast and Northwest Europe.
Alfa Laval Korea Ltd. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hanwha Ocean Ecotech, marking a significant step toward strengthening cooperation in developing safe and reliable ammonia fuel system solutions for dual-fuel vessels. The collaboration is founded on a shared ambition to advance ammonia fuel systems for dual-fuel vessels. Alfa Laval will contribute its proven capabilities in ammonia fuel and mitigation technologies through ammonia fuel supply system and FSS and ammonia release mitigation system (ARMS) and Hanwha will apply its extensive experience in system engineering and integration. This partnership will facilitate the exchange of expertise and improve productivity and safety on board.
ClassNK has issued approval in principle for a concept design of the Multiple Alternative Fuels Ready (ammonia/methanol/ LNG) bulk carrier developed by Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. The certification confirms the feasibility of the vessel from regulatory and safety perspectives. ClassNK has published Annex 1 Alternative Fuel Ready of the Guidelines for Ships Using Alternative Fuels, which summarises the requirements for adding class notations to ships that do not use alternative fuels at the time of construction but are designed and partially equipped to accommodate such fuels in the future.
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