Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sinopec Zhejiang Zhoushan Petroleum and Marubeni Corporation to establish a long-term supply system for marine biodiesel fuel in China.

The agreement is intended to secure stable biodiesel availability as an alternative to conventional marine fuels, supporting efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping operations in Chinese waters.

Under the partnership, MOL will promote the use of biodiesel across its fleet in China. At the same time, Sinopec and Marubeni will develop the supporting infrastructure, including storage facilities, transportation networks and supply ports.

MOL said biodiesel can be used as a “drop-in” fuel without requiring modifications to existing marine engines, making it a near-term option for emissions reduction. Compared with conventional marine fuels, biodiesel offers lower lifecycle CO₂ emissions, the company said.

The initiative is part of MOL's "BLUE ACTION 2035" environmental strategy, which aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The MoU was signed by Tomotaka Ota, general manager of MOL’s Fuel GX Division; Cheng Yasong, general manager of Sinopec Zhejiang Zhoushan Petroleum; and Keiichi Tochimoto, general manager of Marubeni’s Petroleum & LPG Trading Department. Representatives from the Zhoushan Municipal Bureau of Commerce also attended the signing ceremony.

The partners said the agreement reflects growing regulatory pressure and rising industry interest in scalable, lower-carbon fuel solutions for shipping, as shipowners seek practical pathways toward net zero.