Belgian maritime group CMB.TECH is stepping deeper into the fuel side of shipping’s energy transition, securing green ammonia supply in China as it prepares to bring ammonia-powered ships into service.
The Antwerp-based owner has signed an off-take agreement with CEEC Hydrogen Energy for green ammonia produced at the Songyuan project in Jilin Province. Under the project’s first phase, around 158,000 tonnes of renewable ammonia per year will be produced. Construction wrapped up in September 2025, with commercial operations due to start in January 2026.
Alongside the supply agreement, CMB.TECH is also taking a minority stake in Jiangsu Andefu Energy Technology, one of China’s largest ammonia supply chain companies. The move gives the group a foothold in the logistics and storage side of ammonia, linking production to delivery for future marine fuel use.
Andefu is currently building a 49,000 cu m low-temperature ammonia storage tank in Nanjing, which is expected to be commissioned in Q1 2026. Further down the line, Andefu and CEEC plan to bring an ammonia storage terminal in Panjin into operation in the second half of 2027, adding scale to China’s green ammonia logistics network.
The partners are also working toward ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering, targeting commercial deployment in 2026, a key step for supporting the first wave of ammonia-fuelled vessels.
The investments line up with CMB.TECH’s own fleet plans. The company is due to take delivery of 11 ammonia-powered ships in 2026, including 10 newcastlemax bulkers under construction at Qingdao Beihai Shipyard and a 1,400 teu container vessel being built at China Merchants Industry Weihai. All will be fitted with dual-fuel diesel–ammonia engines.
Chief executive Alexander Saverys said the move marked a key step in securing fuel for the company’s next-generation ships, calling 2026 a “very important year” for both CMB.TECH and the wider industry as ammonia moves from concept to operation.
CMB.TECH sees green ammonia as a strong long-term option for shipping, pointing to its zero CO₂ emissions at the point of use and the falling cost of renewable energy that underpins production. The group said it will continue to engage with producers globally, alongside plans to develop green ammonia production in Namibia, as it builds out fuel supply for its growing ammonia-ready fleet.
