Two months after the Mediterranean Emission Control Area (ECA) came into effect, ultra-low-sulphur fuel oil (ULSFO) demand is accelerating across the West Mediterranean, Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region, and extending to Skaw, according to marine fuel seller KPI OceanConnect.

The company claims that very-low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) demand is tapering off as the market adapts to the new regulatory requirements. The Mediterranean ECA, which requires vessels to use fuels with a maximum sulphur content of 0.10%, became operational in May.

KPI OceanConnect's internal data indicates that seven Mediterranean ports now offer ULSFO, with additional suppliers entering key hubs, including Istanbul, Algeciras, Barcelona and Malta. The company expects broader availability and growing confidence in supply to follow.

The shift reflects the maritime industry's response to stricter emission regulations designed to reduce air pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. The ECA designation requires ships to use cleaner fuels or install exhaust gas cleaning systems to meet the lower sulphur limits.

ULSFO, with its sulphur content of 0.10% or less, meets the ECA requirements without additional equipment modifications, making it an attractive compliance option for vessel operators. Following the International Maritime Organization's global sulphur cap implementation in 2020, VLSFO, containing up to 0.50% sulphur, has been the standard marine fuel in the Mediterranean.

The Mediterranean ECA covers waters around major shipping routes and ports, affecting vessel operations across one of the world's busiest maritime regions. Similar emission control areas already operate in the Baltic Sea, North Sea, and coastal waters of the United States and Canada.

KPI OceanConnect said the market adaptation demonstrates the industry's ability to respond to regulatory changes, though the company did not provide specific volume data for the fuel demand shifts it reported.

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