BGN has launched its first US retail marine bunkering business on the US Gulf Coast through a strategic partnership with Centerline Logistics, chartering two double-hulled barges. The operation will initially support BGN’s owned and chartered LPG fleet of around 40 vessels while providing competitive HSFO, VLSFO, and MGO supplies to third-party shipowners.
Houston | July 29, 2026 – Energy and commodities trading major BGN has officially launched its first US-based retail marine bunkering business, marking a major strategic expansion of its global shipping and marine fuels platform.
To anchor its physical entry into the vital North American market, BGN has forged a strategic partnership with Houston-based Centerline Logistics, a premier marine petroleum transportation provider. Under the agreement, BGN has chartered two advanced, double-hulled bunker barges, the Jackson Eades and the MGI 2100, designed to optimize safety standards and mitigate environmental exposure during transfer operations.
Operational Scope Across the US Gulf Coast
Operating out of one of the world’s preeminent energy corridors, the new retail venture will supply a complete suite of conventional marine fuels to vessels calling at ports throughout the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The product matrix features:
- High Sulphur Fuel Oil (HSFO)
- Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO)
- Marine Gasoil (MGO)
Initially, the infrastructure will serve a dual purpose: supporting BGN’s heavily active, owned-and-chartered Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) fleet of approximately 40 vessels, which regularly move US LPG exports to international markets, while simultaneously offering reliable, competitive bunker supply to third-party shipowners operating throughout the region.
Scaling the Americas
Commenting on the launch, Harry Thwaites, Head of Fuel Oil, Feedstocks and Marine Fuels at BGN, emphasized the strategic gravity of the expansion:
“The US Gulf Coast is one of the world’s most important shipping and energy hubs, making it the ideal location to establish our first retail bunkering operation,” stated Thwaites. “We are also pleased to be working with world-class partners such as Centerline Logistics, whose advanced fleet of oil barges will support our ambition to grow BGN’s bunkering operations across the Americas. Going forward, we will look to expand into other major international ports as we continue to strengthen our marine fuels trading platform globally.”
Strengthening the Global Integrated Trading Platform
The move forms a core component of BGN’s broader corporate roadmap to deepen its vertical integration across trading, shipping, and physical marine fuel supply.
While BGN already maintains robust storage and blending capabilities across international maritime gateways, including Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Fujairah, the establishment of a direct retail presence in the US provides a critical bridge for its expanding global footprint. By combining its proprietary fleet demand with institutional-grade local partnerships like Centerline Logistics, BGN is positioning itself to capture growing bunkering flows as North American energy exports continue to scale.
About BGN
BGN is a leading independent global energy and commodities trading group with more than 80 years of industry experience, operating across 120 countries through 20 international locations. The company manages the movement of over 65 million tonnes of commodities annually, holds an estimated 10% share of the global LPG market, and operates a fleet of more than 40 shipping vessels. Its integrated business spans trading, distribution, shipping and chartering, and storage and blending, while its diversified portfolio includes crude oil, refined products, LNG, LPG, petrochemicals, biofuels, renewables, agro products, and critical metals and minerals.
As the energy sector evolves, BGN is expanding its focus on transition fuels, lower-carbon energy solutions, and critical minerals, positioning sustainability and long-term partnerships at the core of its strategy to support the global energy transition.
Source: BGN