Singapore | January 15, 2026 – In a move set to redefine the global maritime energy transition, CF Industries Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CF), Trafigura, and TFG Marine have officially entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to accelerate the adoption of low-carbon ammonia as a primary marine fuel.
The agreement creates a powerful vertical alliance, uniting the world’s largest ammonia producer with one of the planet’s premier commodity traders and a leading physical bunker supplier. The collaboration aims to bridge the gap between production and the “last-mile” delivery of alternative fuels.
Strategic Regional Focus
The collaboration will initially prioritize two of the world’s most critical maritime corridors:
- The U.S. Gulf Coast: Leveraging CF Industries’ massive production footprint, specifically the Donaldsonville, Louisiana complex, the world’s largest ammonia facility.
- Northwest Europe: Tapping into Trafigura’s logistics expertise and TFG Marine’s existing bunkering hubs in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region.
A Synergistic Value Chain – A Framework for Decarbonization
Building on previous successful collaborations in low-carbon ammonia shipments, this MOU establishes a formal framework for market development, stakeholder engagement, and complex bunkering logistics.
Under the terms of the agreement:
- CF Industries will provide the production backbone, utilizing its Donaldsonville, Louisiana complex, the world’s largest ammonia manufacturing site, to supply low-carbon molecules.
- Trafigura will oversee global commodity logistics and market development, utilizing its vast trading reach to identify and aggregate demand.
- TFG Marine (the joint venture between Trafigura, Frontline, and CMB.TECH) will deploy its global bunker supply network to manage the operational delivery, transport to global hubs, and ship-to-ship bunkering solutions.
Executive Leadership Insights
The partnership comes at a critical time as shipowners face increasing pressure from the IMO and FuelEU Maritime regulations to transition away from fossil-based fuels.
Bert Frost, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of CF Industries, emphasized the scale of the transition:
“We are pleased to collaborate with industry leaders such as Trafigura and TFG Marine to establish the supply chain necessary to meet the expected transition of the marine shipping industry to low-carbon ammonia as a fuel.”
Representing the trading and logistics arm of the alliance, Patricio Norris, Global Head of Ammonia and LPG at Trafigura, highlighted the necessity of integrated supply chains:
“This agreement brings together the critical components needed to advance low-carbon ammonia as a viable marine fuel. Through this collaboration with CF Industries and TFG Marine, we are combining world-class production capabilities with our global logistics and bunkering network to support the maritime industry’s transition to cleaner fuels.”
Kenneth Dam, Executive Director of TFG Marine, underscored the operational importance of the deal for vessel operators:
“Our global bunkering infrastructure and operational expertise position us to play a key role in delivering low-carbon ammonia fuel solutions to the shipping industry. This collaboration with CF Industries and Trafigura enables us to develop the supply chain and logistics capabilities needed to make low-carbon ammonia bunkering a commercial reality for vessel operators worldwide.“
Why Low-Carbon Ammonia?
As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) tightens greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations for 2026 and beyond, ammonia has emerged as a frontrunner because it contains no carbon and emits no CO2 during combustion.
However, the industry faces hurdles. Unlike LNG, ammonia is highly toxic and requires specialized handling, storage, and engine configurations to manage N2O emissions and “ammonia slip.” By uniting a producer, a trader, and a physical bunker supplier, this MOU creates a closed-loop framework to address these safety and logistical challenges head-on.
CF Industries Holdings
CF Industries mission is to provide clean energy to feed and fuel the world sustainably. They are currently on a path to decarbonize their ammonia production network, the world’s largest, to enable low-carbon hydrogen and nitrogen products for energy, fertilizer, and emissions abatement. Their network spans the U.S., Canada, and the UK.
Trafigura
Trafigura is a leading employee-owned commodities group. They connect vital resources to power and build the world, moving oil, metals, and minerals globally. The group includes assets such as Nyrstar (metals), Puma Energy (fuel distribution), and Greenergy (biofuels), and is a major investor in renewable energy through MorGen Energy and Nala Renewables.
About TFG Marine
TFG Marine is a leading international marine fuel supply and procurement joint venture between physical commodity trading company Trafigura Group Pte and ship-owning companies Frontline Ltd and CMB.TECH. Formed in 2020, the company provides modern, simplified and transparent services that bridge every stage of the bunkering process for its customers, supplying over 10 million metric tonnes of marine fuels per annum across 35 strategic bunkering hub locations globally.
Source: TFG Marine