LNG-fuelled vessels now account for approximately 90% of all alternative-fuel ships on order globally, up from 66% year-to-date, according to data published by industry coalition SEA-LNG on 4 June.

The figures, drawn from the first half of 2026, point to continued growth in the methane decarbonisation pathway despite broader market uncertainty and regulatory delays at the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

According to SEA-LNG, LNG bunkering volumes have risen sharply in several major ports. Singapore recorded a 48% increase in LNG bunkering in Q1 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, reaching 150,000 tonnes. Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges together reported a 44% increase over the same period, with Antwerp-Bruges alone recording a 214% surge.

Uptake of liquefied biomethane (LBM) is also climbing. The Port of Rotterdam recorded a more than six-fold increase in LBM blend bunkering in 2025 compared with 2024, with 15,260 cbm bunkered in Q1 2026 alone — almost matching the total volume recorded for the whole of 2025, according to SEA-LNG.

Two of its members reported notable shifts in their fuel mix: Gasum said biomethane grew from 0.8% to 12.3% of its maritime gas volumes between 2024 and 2025, while Titan Clean Fuels recorded liquefied biomethane rising from 6.5% to 19.1% of total delivered volume over the same period.

Data from DNV cited by SEA-LNG shows that 60 LNG dual-fuel vessels were ordered in the first five months of 2026, spanning containerships, car and truck carriers, oil tankers and cruise ships. While the order rate is down, reflecting what SEA-LNG describes as broader market uncertainty and shipyard capacity constraints, the coalition claims that LNG-fuelled ships now represent close to 90% of all alternative-fuel vessels on order globally.

Steve Esau, COO of SEA-LNG, commented: "The transition is not without headwinds. Some parts of the industry are pulling back. But the methane pathway is not one of them. Bunkering volumes are up. The orderbook is growing. Emissions are coming down. The value chain is stepping forward, not back."

SEA-LNG chairman Peter Keller pointed to the resilience of the pathway in the face of regulatory uncertainty: "2026 is testing the industry's nerve. The IMO's regulatory delays have not slowed the methane pathway. It has foundations that do not bend with the headlines, and owners and operators understand the long-term value. Investment, infrastructure and fleet uptake continue to move forward together. The data proves it. This is what keeping calm and carrying on looks like."

SEA-LNG argues that fuel optionality is a key driver of the methane pathway's resilience. Dual-fuel vessels can switch between LNG, LBM and conventional marine fuels as market conditions change. The coalition also notes that LBM and e-methane can be produced domestically from waste and renewable energy sources, reducing exposure to geopolitical supply disruptions.

SEA-LNG is a UK-registered not-for-profit industry foundation with members across the LNG value chain, including fuel producers, shipowners, engine and asset suppliers, and classification societies.