The CMA CGM Group and SIPG Energy completed its first biomethanol bunkering of the CMA CGM OSMIUM at Yangshan Port’s Shengdong Terminal on March 5-6, 2026. The operation marks a significant step for the shipping group as the newly delivered 13,000 TEU biomethanol dual-fuel containership prepares to enter service on the M2X route linking Asia with Mexico. This event represents a major operational milestone for the company as it advances its strategy to integrate lower-carbon fuels into global maritime logistics.
During the operation, a total of 3,643 tons of biomethanol were supplied, sourced from producers including Shanghai Electric Group at its production base in Taonan, Jilin province. The fueling activity set a new benchmark, recording the largest single biomethanol bunkering volume ever completed at a Chinese port.
The first biomethanol bunkering also aligns with the CMA CGM Group’s long-term environmental objectives. The company has committed to reaching Net Zero Carbon by 2050 and continues to adopt available technologies aimed at lowering the environmental impact of maritime transport and logistics operations. As part of this plan, the group is preparing to deploy around 200 dual-fuel container vessels by 2031. These ships will be capable of operating on a range of low-carbon fuels, including bio and e-LNG as well as bio and e-methanol, providing flexibility as the industry transitions toward cleaner energy sources.
CMA CGM’s cooperation with SIPG Energy and Shanghai Electric Group includes a long-term LNG bunkering partnership with SIPG as well as a framework agreement covering long-term biomethanol supply. These partnerships have helped create the conditions necessary for the first biomethanol bunkering to take place in China. The successful fueling of the CMA CGM OSMIUM also underscores the company’s commitment to expanding the use of sustainable alternative fuels throughout its network, while reinforcing Shanghai’s growing position as an international hub for sustainable marine fuels and supporting China’s ambitions for low-carbon shipping.
For the CMA CGM Group, the first biomethanol bunkering represents a historic moment and highlights Shanghai’s growing role within the company’s broader decarbonization strategy. Biomethanol, derived from renewable or waste-based biomass, is considered a low-carbon marine fuel capable of cutting lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by more than 65% when compared with conventional marine fuels.
