CMA CGM has completed its first biomethanol bunkering for the 13,000 TEU CMA CGM Osmium at Yangshan Port. The 3,600+ ton operation, conducted with SIPG Energy and Shanghai Electric, is the largest of its kind in China and marks a major step toward the carrier’s Net Zero 2050 goal.
Shanghai | March 9, 2026 -In a transformative moment for the global maritime energy transition, CMA CGM and SIPG Energy have successfully completed the bunkering of the newbuild CMA CGM Osmium with 3,643 tons of biomethanol.
The operation, conducted on March 5–6, 2026, at Yangshan Port’s Shengdong Terminal, represents two major industry milestones: it is the first biomethanol bunkering for the CMA CGM fleet worldwide and sets a new national record for the largest single biomethanol bunkering operation ever performed at a Chinese port.
A Milestone for the “Mexico Express” (M2X) Service
The CMA CGM Osmium, a state-of-the-art 13,000 TEU dual-fuel containership, was officially named in South Korea just weeks ago on February 23. Following this historic bunkering, the vessel is set to join the M2X (Mexico Express) service, a critical loop connecting East Asian manufacturing hubs with the Mexican coast.
By running on biomethanol, the Osmium achieves a 65% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to traditional high-sulfur or very-low-sulfur fuel oils. This deployment is part of CMA CGM’s aggressive roadmap to operate nearly 200 dual-fuel vessels by 2031, spanning LNG, biomethane, and methanol technologies.
“The biomethanol bunkering of the CMA CGM OSMIUM is more than a technical success; it marks a defining moment in our decarbonization journey,” said Farid Trad, Vice President Group Energy Transition at CMA CGM. “Together with SIPG Energy, we are demonstrating that cleaner, low-carbon shipping is no longer an aspiration but a reality.”
Strategic Partnership: Building a Vertically Integrated Supply Chain
This record-breaking stem was made possible through a trilateral collaboration between CMA CGM, Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG Energy), and Shanghai Electric Group.
- Fuel Production: The biomethanol was sourced from Shanghai Electric’s pioneering production facility in Taonan, Jilin Province. By utilizing an innovative wind-biomass coupling process, the plant converts renewable electricity and organic waste into low-carbon marine fuel. This successful vertical integration, linking large-scale production in Northeast China directly to the world’s busiest port in Shanghai, proves the commercial viability of a robust, end-to-end biomethanol supply chain.
- Logistics & Delivery: The fuel was transported via a land-sea network to Shanghai, where SIPG Energy executed the physical ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering.
- Infrastructure: The operation utilized the Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, currently the largest methanol bunkering vessel in China, which has been instrumental in Shanghai’s transition to “Regular Methanol Bunkering Operations” as of 2025.
Shanghai’s Green Hub Ambition
The scale of the Osmium operation, exceeding 3,600 tons, underscores China’s rapid infrastructure development and its commitment to maritime decarbonization. Luo Wenbin, Managing Director of SIPG Energy, noted that under a strategic roadmap released by Beijing, Shanghai aims to supply 1 million tons of green methanol and biofuels annually by 2030. To accelerate this transition, the port is offering significant incentives, including 50% discounts on berthing fees for vessels utilizing certified green fuels.
Emphasizing Shanghai’s trajectory as a premier global green fuel hub, Luo Wenbin stated:
“The completion of China’s largest single biomethanol bunkering operation marks a significant leap in Shanghai Port’s capacity. SIPG Energy will continue to enhance its integrated capabilities in resource coordination, storage, and bunkering services to help build Shanghai Port into a global sustainable energy hub.”
For bunkering operators and shipowners, the success of the CMA CGM Osmium serves as a “Chinese solution” to the fuel availability challenge, proving that large-scale, low-carbon bunkering is now commercially and operationally viable in the world’s busiest container hubs.
About the Lead Entities
CMA CGM Group The CMA CGM Group is a preeminent global player in sea, land, air, and logistics solutions, guided by its corporate purpose: “We imagine better ways to serve a world in motion.” With a presence in 177 countries, the Group employs a diverse workforce of 160,000 people, including nearly 6,000 at its global headquarters in Marseille, France.
As the world’s third-largest shipping company, CMA CGM maintains a formidable maritime presence, serving more than 420 ports across five continents with a fleet of over 700 vessels. In 2025 alone, the Group demonstrated its immense operational scale by carrying more than 24 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).
Shanghai Electric Group A leading global supplier of industrial-grade eco-friendly energy solutions, Shanghai Electric operates the Taonan production base, which utilizes wind-biomass coupling to produce certified green methanol for the maritime sector.
Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) Founded in 1988, SIPG is the principal operator of public terminals at the Port of Shanghai, one of the largest and busiest seaports in the world. Listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange since 2006, SIPG offers a complete logistics value chain, including container and bulk terminal services, shipping agency, and land transportation.
SIPG Energy (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., established in November 2023, is the Group’s integrated energy management arm. It operates the world’s leading bunkering fleet, including the LNG vessel Hai Gang Wei Lai and the world’s largest green methanol bunkering vessel, Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, providing ship-to-ship bunkering services to international fleets.
Source: CMA CGM Group