VANCOUVER, British Columbia | September 23, 2025 — In a bold move reinforcing its leadership in the global energy transition, Methanex Corporation, the world’s largest producer and supplier of methanol, has announced the official launch of its global methanol bunkering operations through new strategic partnerships in two of the world’s most critical maritime fueling hubs: the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp region (ARA region) and South Korea.
This milestone reflects Methanex’s firm commitment to supporting the shipping industry’s transition to low-emission fuels and to meeting the growing demand for alternative energy solutions in compliance with increasingly stringent environmental regulations.
Strategic Collaborations in Key Maritime Corridors
In the European inland waterway capital of ARA, Methanex is partnering with TankMatch, a well-established expert in fuel logistics and barge operations. This collaboration enables safe, efficient barge-to-ship methanol bunkering, expanding on a legacy operation originally initiated by OCI Global and UniBarge. Following Methanex’s acquisition of OCI’s methanol assets, the company is now positioned to deliver enhanced capacity and comprehensive service to a wider spectrum of marine customers in the region.
Across the globe in Asia, Methanex has joined forces with Alpha Maritime and Hyodong Shipping—two leading Korean maritime service providers—to operationalize last-mile methanol bunkering within one of the busiest and most strategic trade corridors in the world.
“These partnerships allow us to safely and reliably fuel ships with methanol in two of the busiest global trade corridors that are pivotal to maritime decarbonization,” said Mark Allard, Senior Vice President of Low Carbon Solutions at Methanex. “By leveraging our global supply chain with the expertise of trusted local bunkering operators, we now provide a fully integrated, end-to-end methanol fuel solution to support the maritime industry’s needs.”
Pioneering Safe and Scalable Methanol Bunkering
With over a decade of operational experience from its subsidiary Waterfront Shipping, Methanex brings unmatched technical expertise and a proven track record in methanol-fueled vessel operations. The company has developed a comprehensive methanol bunkering safety package, along with detailed technical guidance aligned with international protocols to support safe adoption by shipowners, terminals, and bunkering operators.
All partner organizations have undergone rigorous vetting and training to meet Methanex’s high operational and safety standards, ensuring consistent, world-class service delivery across geographies.
Andre Nieman, CEO of TankMatch, commented “This partnership allows us to apply our expertise in inland waterway fuel logistics to accelerate the safe adoption of methanol bunkering in the ARA region.”
J. R. Cho, Marketing Manager of Alpha Maritime, added “Through this collaboration, we are proud to deliver reliable last-mile methanol bunkering services that give shipowners practical solutions to help their transition to cleaner shipping.”
Injun Ko, COO & VP of Hyodong Shipping, stated “Korea is a key maritime hub in Asia, and Hyodong Shipping is pleased to leverage our methanol bunkering expertise in collaboration with Methanex. This partnership will serve as a catalyst in positioning Korea as a critical hub for the transition to low-carbon shipping.”
Scaling to Meet Growing Demand
As the maritime industry intensifies its pursuit of IMO 2030 and 2050 emissions targets, the demand for low-carbon methanol is expected to surge dramatically. Methanex is proactively expanding its global logistics network to ensure reliable, scalable methanol supply and bunkering infrastructure that can serve both existing fleets and the next generation of methanol-powered vessels.
With a foundation built on safety, experience, and global reach, Methanex is not just enabling the transition to methanol—it is driving it.
Why Methanol?
Methanol is gaining significant traction as a marine fuel due to its environmental and operational advantages.
- Reduced Emissions: Methanol combustion significantly reduces emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx), particulate matter (PM), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) compared to conventional marine fuels. This helps vessels comply with increasingly strict international regulations.
- Easy Handling: Unlike liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol is a liquid at ambient temperature and pressure. This makes it easier to store and transport, and it can be handled with minimal modifications to existing bunkering infrastructure.
- Future-Proofing: While most methanol today is “grey” (produced from natural gas), it can also be “green” (produced from renewable sources like biomass or captured carbon). This offers a clear pathway to a fully decarbonized future for shipping without the need for future engine replacements.
- Cost and Availability: While global availability is expanding, the cost of green methanol is currently higher than fossil fuels. Significant scaling of production capacity is required to meet the projected surge in demand.
About Methanex Corporation
Methanex Corporation is a publicly traded company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, and is the world’s largest producer and supplier of methanol. The company operates an integrated global supply chain across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Methanex shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MX) and the Nasdaq Stock Market (MEOH).
Source Methanex Corporation