A significant majority, nearly 90%, of China's green methanol initiatives are currently stuck in the initial filing phase, as reported by GL Consulting, a subsidiary of Shanghai Ganglian E-Commerce Holdings. Melissa Li, business director at GL Consulting, highlighted that this stagnation is primarily a result of insufficient mature bunkering infrastructure and the absence of clear compliance frameworks necessary for these projects to advance.
China is widely recognized for holding approximately 80% of the world's projected green methanol production capacity. However, this high potential is not translating into operational projects due to the existing bottlenecks.
For freight forwarders and logistics professionals, this situation indicates that the widespread availability of green methanol as a marine fuel in China will likely be delayed. This could impact carriers' decarbonization strategies and the associated costs for shippers looking to reduce their supply chain emissions. Forwarders should anticipate continued reliance on conventional fuels or other alternative fuel options in the short to medium term for vessels operating in or transiting through Chinese waters, potentially affecting vessel routing and fuel surcharges.
