Sea change for shipping sector
New rules are imminent and will have a big impact on the global fuel oil sector
Only two years remain before world shipping must conform to the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Marpol "Annex VI" regulation to reduce sulphur content in marine fuels. Market participants agree that this is a major and potentially disruptive change, but say fuel suppliers and shippers seem to be approaching the deadline with equanimity. "Fundamentally, people are not prepared, in the sense that they're not doing anything differently" ahead of the deadline, says Andrew Laven, regional manager for Middle East and Africa at the Bomin Group, a bunkering company with operations worldwide. He points out that many in the industry believe evaluations that there will be enough 0.5% sulphu
Also in this section
10 March 2026
From Venezuela to Hormuz, the US—backed by the most powerful military force ever assembled—is redrawing not only oil and gas flows but also the global balance of energy power
10 March 2026
By shutting the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has cut exports of distillate-rich Middle Eastern crude, jet fuel and diesel, and is holding the energy market hostage
10 March 2026
Eni’s director for global gas and LNG portfolio, Cristian Signoretto, discusses how demand will respond to rising LNG supply, and how the company is expanding its own gas and LNG operations through disciplined, capital-efficient investments
9 March 2026
Petroleum Economist analysis sees increases in output from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan among others before region’s murky descent
