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Q&A: Marine CO2 goals need culture shift: TotalEnergies

  • Spanish Market: Biofuels, Hydrogen, Oil products
  • 20/05/24

A cultural change in buying behaviour and supply patterns is necessary for the shipping sector to meet its decarbonisation targets and may be the biggest hurdle to overcome, strategy and projects director for TotalEnergies' marine fuels division Frederic Meyer told Argus. Edited highlights follow:

What is the biggest challenge standing in the way of the maritime industry in meeting decarbonisation targets and the fuel transition ?

A cultural change is required — for decades the maritime sector has relied on by-products with high energy density from the crude refining process such as fuel oil. The industry will now have to pivot its attention towards fuels developed for the purpose of consumption within the maritime industry. This will also require time as the sector looks to level up, and it remains to be seen whether there will be enough time to meet the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)'s net-zero by or around 2050 targets. But we have seen some good progress from cargo owners who are seeking scope 3 emissions related documents.

How does TotalEnergies see marine biodiesel demand moving in the short term?

In the short term, there is little incentive for the majority of buyers in the market. This is due to a lack of any regulatory mandates, as well as limited impact from existing regulations such as the IMO's carbon intensity indicator (CII) and the EU's Emissions Trading System (ETS).

Despite providing a zero emission factor incentive for biofuels meeting the sustainability criteria under the EU's Renewable Energy Directive (RED), EU ETS is still on a staggered implementation basis beginning with only 40pc this year, rising to 70pc next year and 100pc in 2026. Further, EU ETS prices have been quite low, which also weighed on financial incentives for marine biodiesel. Therefore, many buyers are currently waiting for further incentives and signals from the regulators before purchasing marine biodiesel blends.

Another point impacting demand is the current edition of ISO 8217, which does not provide much flexibility when it comes to marine biodiesel blend percentages and specifications. The new 2024 edition will likely provide greater flexibility for blending percentages, as well as a provision for biodiesel that does not meet EN14214 specifications. This will provide greater flexibility from a supply point of view.

However, there remains stable demand from buyers who can pass on the extra costs to their customers.

And how do you see this demand fluctuating in the medium to long term?

If the other alternative marine fuels, such as ammonia and methanol, that are currently being discussed do not develop at the speed necessary to meet the decarbonisation targets, then marine biodiesel demand will likely be firm.

Many in the market have voiced concerns regarding biofuel feedstock competition between marine and aviation, ahead of the implementation of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandates in Europe starting next year. With Argus assessments for SAF at much higher levels than marine biodiesel blends, do you think common feedstocks such as used cooking oil (UCO) will get pulled away from maritime and into aviation?

With regards to competition among different industries for the same biofuel feedstock, suppliers may channel their feedstock towards aviation fuels due to the higher non-compliance penalties associated with SAF regulations as opposed to those in marine, which would incentivise greater demand for SAF. An area that can be explored for marine is the by-product when producing SAF, which can amount to up to 30pc of the fuel output. This could potentially feed into a marine biodiesel supply pool. So it's not necessarily the case that the two sectors will battle over the same feedstock if process synergies can be found.

Regarding fuel specifications, market participants have told Argus that the lack of a marine-specific fuel standard for alternatives such as marine biodiesel is feeding into uncertainty for buyers who may not be as familiar with biofuels. What impact could this have on demand for marine biodiesel blends from your point of view?

Currently, mainstream biodiesel specifications in marine biodiesel blends are derived from other markets such as the EN14214 specification from road diesel engines. But given the large flexibility of a marine engine, there is room to test and try different things. For "unconventional" biofuels that do not meet those road specifications, there needs to be a testing process accompanied by proof of results that showcase its safety for combustion within a marine engine.

Some companies may not have the means or capacity to test their biodiesel before taking it into the market. But TotalEnergies always ensures that there are no engine-related issues from fuel combustion. Suppliers need to enact the necessary testing and take on the burden, as cutting out this process may create a negative perception for the product more generally.

Traders should also take on some of the burden and test their fuels to ensure they are fully compatible with the engine.

With many regulations being discussed, how do you see the risk of regulatory clashes impacting the industry?

The simple solution would be an electronic register to trace the chain of custody. In the French markets, often times the proof of sustainability (PoS) papers are stored onto an electronic database once they are retired to the relevant authority. This database is then accessible and viewable by the buyer, and the supplier could also further deliver a "sustainability information letter" which mirrors the details found in the PoS. It is important for the maritime sector to adopt an electronically traceable system.

What role could other types of fuels such as pyrolysis oil potentially play in the maritime sector's decarbonisation targets?

We have teams in research and development at TotalEnergies which are studying the potential use of other molecules, including but not limited to pyrolysis oil, for usage in the maritime sector. It may become an alternative option to avoid industry clashes, as pyrolysis oil would not be an attractive option to the aviation sector.

We are currently exploring tyre-based pyrolysis oil, but have only started doing so recently so it remains an untapped resource. We need to figure out the correct purification and distillation process to ensure compatibility with marine engines. For the time being we are specifically looking at tyre-based pyrolysis oil and not plastic-based, but we may look at the latter in a later stage.

The fuel would also have to meet the RED criteria of a 65-70pc greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction compared with conventional fossil fuels, so we are still exploring whether this can be achieved.


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03/02/25

US delays Mexico tariffs by a month: Update

US delays Mexico tariffs by a month: Update

Adds comments from press conference, White House response, historic context. Mexico City, 3 February (Argus) — The US has agreed to postpone the 4 February implementation of 25pc tariffs on Mexican goods by one month to allow more time for negotiations, President Claudia Sheinbaum said today. Under an agreement with the US, Mexico will immediately reinforce its border with the US with 10,000 national guard troops to limit drug trafficking into the US, with a specific focus on fentanyl, Sheinbaum posted on social media platform X. The US pledged to take stronger action to curb the flow of high-powered firearms into Mexico, she said. The pause will allow "Mexico time to demonstrate good results for the US people and our people" on key security concerns, Sheinbaum said. US president Donald Trump confirmed the tariff delay in a social media post, saying there would be negotiations in the coming weeks with Mexican officials and US secretary of state Marco Rubio, secretary of the treasury Scott Bessent and secretary of commerce Howard Lutnick. The White House praised Mexico's willingness to respond positively to the tariff threats, while characterizing the Canadian response as [a] misunderstanding. "The good news is that in our conversations over the weekend, one of the things we've noticed is that Mexicans are very, very serious about doing what President Trump said," White House National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said in a broadcast interview. Canada had "misunderstood the plain language of the executive order and they're interpreting it as a trade war." Trump said this morning that he "looks forward to negotiations" with Sheinbaum to reach a deal between the countries. He is also talking to Canadian premier Justin Trudeau later today. The announcements today do not address Trump's complaints of a trade deficit with Mexico, which Sheinbaum said during a press conference today the US misinterprets as a negative. Both the US and Mexico benefit from the region becoming more competitive, she said. Mexico will also keep its retaliatory tariffs on the table: "We will save Plan B for later, if necessary," Sheinbaum said. The current tensions are similar to those from 2019, when Trump threatened to impose 5pc tariffs on all Mexican goods. He relented when former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Mexico would deploy 21,000 national guard troops to contain the flow of migrants toward the US. If the tariffs were implemented, it would disrupt the energy trade between the US and Mexico. Nearly all of Mexico's roughly 500,000 b/d of crude shipments to the US in January-November 2024 were waterborne cargoes sent to US Gulf coast refiners. Those shipments in the future could be diverted to Asia or Europe. Mexico also imports much of its road fuels and LPG from the US. But the country is unlikely to hit these goods with retaliatory tariffs, according to market sources. By Antonio Gozain and Cas Biekmann Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

European products markets open higher on US tariffs


03/02/25
03/02/25

European products markets open higher on US tariffs

London, 3 February (Argus) — European light and middle distillate markets opened higher today after US tariffs against China, Mexico and Canada were announced over the weekend, but market participants reacted cautiously to the move. US president Donald Trump on 1 February slapped tariffs of 10pc on Canadian energy imports, which account for a significant share of foreign crude and products supply into the US. The tariff rate against Canada stood in contrast to the 25pc tariff applied to Mexico, which may be designed to mitigate the inflationary effect of costlier Canadian crude and products imports in the US market. Eurobob non-oxy gasoline barges were trading at a volume-weighted average of $728/t at 13:40 GMT, up from $715/t since the 31 January close, while underlying Ice February gasoil futures — the futures value against which diesel and jet cargoes are traded — was higher at $727/t, up from $711.25/t. Brent crude values were just 14¢/bl higher, as product cracks firmed by 19.1pc and 8.6pc to $10.37/bl and $20.43/bl against Brent futures for non-oxy barges and Ice gasoil futures, respectively. Any Canadian product sales into the US would see tariffs passed onto the buyer, according to one source with knowledge of the matter, adding they were waiting to see how Canada otherwise responds to the US tariffs. Canadian refiners could also start sending their product to west Africa or Latin America, another source close to the matter told Argus last week. This ‘wait-and-see' approach was echoed by one Mideast Gulf gasoline trader, while two European analysts said the desired policy outcome of rebalancing trade between the US and Canada was not straightforward, and may make Canadian products imports more affordable as the Canadian dollar depreciates. The US may be better prepared for a gasoline supply shock as a result of seasonal stockpiling, one analyst said, but the US Atlantic Coast has a more significant gasoline supply shortage than Canada if gasoline output were to remain in the domestic market north of the border, another said. In a sign of concerns over US Atlantic Coast diesel tightness, the Sebarok Spirit LR2 appeared to have been booked to deliver a mixed cargo of 10ppm diesel and gasoline from the Port of Antwerp to New York by 15 February, according to Kpler tracking data. These type of voyages "never happen", one analyst said, with Europe structurally short of diesel and the ARA hub a reliable diesel buyer of last resort. The vessel was still anchored at the Port of Antwerp today. In the event of lower Canadian crude deliveries to US refineries, US product cracks could strengthen, one analyst said, but added a halt in supplies of Western Canadian Select (WCS) to US refineries was unlikely. A strengthening in product cracks could exacerbate a seasonal improvement in Rbob gasoline premiums ahead of the summer driving season, the source said, while transatlantic diesel arbitrage economics could remain shut firmly for longer — closing off a key supplier from the European diesel market. It was not immediately clear how product flows from Canada to the US were otherwise impacted today, as most product exports into the US are made via pipeline. No new gasoline or diesel cargoes were recorded loading at Canadian ports signalling US delivery by Kpler today. Two vessels carrying clean products from Valero's 265,000 b/d Jean Gaulin refinery, Quebec, were sitting offshore northeast US signalling to discharge volume at New Haven, Connecticut on 5-6 February. By George Maher-Bonnett Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US delays Mexico tariffs by a month


03/02/25
03/02/25

US delays Mexico tariffs by a month

Mexico City, 3 February (Argus) — The US has agreed to postpone the implementation of 25pc tariffs on Mexican goods for one month, "allowing Mexico time to demonstrate good results for the US people and our people" on key security concerns, President Claudia Sheinbaum said today. Under the agreement Mexico will immediately reinforce its border with the US with 10,000 national guard troops to prevent drug trafficking into the US, with a specific focus on fentanyl, Sheinbaum posted on social media platform X following a conversation with President Donald Trump. The US pledged to take stronger action to curb the flow of high-powered firearms into Mexico, she said. US president Donald Trump confirmed the tariff delay in a social media post, saying there would be negotiations in the coming weeks with Mexican officials and US secretary of state Marco Rubio, secretary of the treasury Scott Bessent and secretary of commerce Howard Lutnick. The tariffs were originally set to take effect on 4 February. By Antonio Gozain Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Pemex can partially bypass US tariffs with Asia sales


03/02/25
03/02/25

Pemex can partially bypass US tariffs with Asia sales

Mexico City, 2 February (Argus) — Mexico's state-owned oil company Pemex can sidestep the US' 25pc tariff on Mexican imports by redirecting crude to other international buyers, particularly in Asia, market sources say. Pemex primarily sells crude under evergreen or long-term contracts, allowing it to set prices and volumes buyers must accept, one former executive at Pemex's trading arm PMI told Argus . These agreements vary in duration, with some being indefinite and others requiring a minimum purchase period. The 25pc tariff imposed by US president Donald Trump's administration could simply be added to Pemex's benchmark price and leave US buyers to decide whether to accept it. If they decline, Pemex could offer its crude at a discount to other buyers. "Pemex would rather sell at a discount elsewhere than absorb most or all of the tariff to keep exporting to the US," the former PMI executive said. Pemex has more flexibility than Canadian heavy crude producers, whose output is primarily transported through pipeline to US refiners in the midcontinent. Pemex can more easily divert shipments to Europe or Asia rather than Texas, where most of its crude is consumed. Pemex exported about 806,200 b/d of crude in 2024, a 22pc drop from 2023, according to company data. The US took around 505,000 b/d, or 60pc, of Mexico's crude exports in 2024, vessel tracking data show. Pemex is a key supplier of heavy crude and high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) to US Gulf coast refiners, which are also optimized to convert HSFO — a low-value byproduct — into higher-value fuels like gasoline and diesel. The state-owned company exported around 130,000 b/d of HSFO to the US in 2024, down from 163,000 b/d in 2023, according to Vortexa. Pemex typically sells fuel oil at a discount relative to its high-sulphur Mayan crude to Texas refiners. Domestically, Pemex supplies HSFO to state-owned utility CFE, which uses it for power generation. Pemex owns the 312,500 b/d Deer Park refinery in Texas, which processes Maya crude, but does not disclose how much crude it supplies to the facility. Pemex exported around 67,000 b/d of crude to the Deer Park refinery in 2024, according to Vortexa data. In the medium term, Pemex could lower shipping costs to Asia by upgrading infrastructure at its Salina Cruz port on Mexico's Pacific coast, the former PMI executive said. "It wouldn't require a large investment, just improved pipeline capacity to move crude from the Gulf to the Pacific," he said. By Édgar Sígler Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Trump tariffs to hit North American energy trade


02/02/25
02/02/25

Trump tariffs to hit North American energy trade

Washington, 2 February (Argus) — US president Donald Trump is set to disrupt the integrated North American energy market with tariffs of 10pc on Canadian energy imports and 25pc on Mexico-sourced energy commodities, effective on 4 February. Trump on Saturday issued executive orders that would impose taxes of 25pc on all imports from Mexico and 25pc on all non-energy imports from Canada, effective on 4 February. Most energy commodities imported from Canada would be subject to a lower, 10pc tariff. Imported goods in transit before 12:01am ET on 1 February would not be subject to those levies. The Canada energy exemption applies to "crude oil, natural gas, lease condensates, natural gas liquids, refined petroleum products, uranium, coal, biofuels, geothermal heat, the kinetic movement of flowing water and critical minerals". Trump and the White House did not explain why he made a slight concession on the Canadian energy commodities. The US-Canada energy trade is particularly vulnerable to tariffs, for both sides. More than 4mn b/d of Canada's exports are wholly dependent on pipeline routes to and through the US. Conversely, many refineries in the US midcontinent have no practical alternative to the Canadian crude. Industry group the American Petroleum Institute said on Saturday that it would "continue to work with the Trump administration on full exclusions that protect energy affordability for consumers, expand the nation's energy advantage and support American jobs". Trump imposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico, as well as on China, by declaring a "national emergency" related to alleged inability of those countries to stem the flow of migrants and illegal drug fentanyl to the US. The White House in previous decades has used emergency declarations to impose sanctions against foreign countries, and US courts have stayed away from challenging the executive branch on such declarations and their economic applications. The choice of an emergency declaration also is meant to prevent the US Congress, which retains primary authority over US international trade, from intervening legislatively to remove tariffs. Congressional Republicans, at any rate, quickly hailed Trump's decision. By contrast, Democratic lawmakers and state officials denounced the tariffs and cited inflationary effects of the import taxes. Tit for tat Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau said on Saturday that his country's energy exports to the US would factor in with other retaliatory measures, possibly in the form of export taxes. "There are a number of different industries and regions of the country that can have greater leverage over the US," Trudeau said. "One thinks of the oil industry for example." Alberta premier Danielle Smith said on Saturday that she would oppose efforts to ban or to tax exports to the US. Trudeau said he would hold consultations with regional and business leaders before taking any counter-measures. But he added, "no one part of the country should be carrying a heavier burden than another." Trudeau said that Canada would apply a 25pc import tax on C$30bn ($21bn) worth of imports from the US on 4 February, followed by a 25pc tariff on an additional C$125bn worth of imports on 25 February. Denouncing Trump's punitive tariffs and his frequent derogatory comments about the US' northern neighbor, Trudeau, in comments directed at a US audience, said: "From the beaches of Normandy to the mountains of the Korean Peninsula, from the fields of Flanders to the streets of Kandahar, we have fought and died alongside you." Mexico's president Claudia Sheinbaum likewise criticized Trump's action, characterizing as "slander" the text of his executive orders, which alleged that Mexico's government was an instrument of the country's drug cartels. But Mexico did not unveil specific countermeasures against Trump's tariffs. "I instruct the secretary of economy to implement Plan B, which we have been working on, including tariff and non-tariff measures in defense of Mexico's interests," Sheinbaum said on Saturday. Trump's executive orders call for raising US tariffs if Canada and Mexico retaliate. Effects to be felt across the economy The North American energy industry is an obvious casualty of Trump's trade war. But its effects will be felt in automobile manufacturing, agriculture, steel, aluminum, potash and every other sector of the economy in all three countries. Nearly all of Mexico's roughly 500,000 b/d of crude shipments to the US in January-November 2024 were waterborne cargoes sent to US Gulf coast refiners. Those shipments in the future could be diverted to Asia or Europe. Tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico would most likely have the greatest impact on US Atlantic coast motor fuel markets. The tariffs may affect regional natural gas price spreads and increase costs for downstream consumers, but there is limited scope for a reduction in gas flows between the two countries — at least in the short term. Tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports also will disrupt years of free-flowing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) trade between the three countries, market sources said. North American steel trading costs could rise by as much at $5.3bn across the three nations, since Mexico and Canada are expected to issue reciprocal tariffs against the US, as it did when Trump issued tariffs in his first term. The tariffs could also disrupt US corn and soybean sales, since China and Mexico account for 48pc of US corn exports and 61pc of US soybean exports since 2019, according to US Department of Agriculture data. By Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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