Marubeni Corporation announced on September 30, 2024, that it has entered into an agreement with Norwegian shipping company Solvang ASA to establish a joint venture and co-own the ammonia carrier “MV Clipper Neptun.” Solvang is a leading player in the maritime transport of ammonia, holding a 10% share of the global seaborne ammonia trade. The company possesses extensive expertise and experience in transporting ammonia by sea.
(Text by Hiro Yamamoto)
Photo courtesy= Marubeni Corporation, Solvang
In recent years, the demand for ammonia has been rising as it is increasingly used in fertilizers, co-firing with coal in thermal power plants, and as a marine fuel. As the shipping industry looks to use ammonia as a fuel in the future, establishing a robust supply chain for ammonia is becoming a critical challenge.
Marubeni is one of Japan’s largest trading companies, with its shipping business managed by the company’s dedicated shipping division.
■Marubeni Expands Its Shipping Portfolio with First Joint Ownership of Ammonia Carrier
Marubeni Corporation currently owns around 50 small to medium-sized bulk carriers through its Singapore-based subsidiary, MMSL, which specializes in ship ownership and management. While some of these are jointly owned, the majority are wholly owned by Marubeni.
In the LNG carrier business, Marubeni currently shares ownership of approximately 16 LNG carriers. This includes eight vessels with the BW Group, six with Seapeak, and two with SK Shipping, with Marubeni holding around a 50% equity stake in each of these partnerships.
In June 2023, Marubeni acquired a 25% stake in Klaveness Dry Bulk, the Panamax bulk carrier operations arm of the Norwegian shipping giant Torvald Klaveness Group, as part of its bulk carrier pooling business. The pool currently operates around 30 vessels. Up until now, vessel sizes within the pool ranged from 70,000 to 95,000 deadweight tons, but moving forward, the pool aims to focus more on Kamsarmax and Panamax vessels, where Klaveness has particular strengths.
This marks Marubeni’s first venture into the joint ownership of an ammonia carrier. It remains to be seen how this new business model will contribute positively to Marubeni’s broader shipping business.
■ Ammonia Market Outlook
The Japanese government anticipates a domestic demand of 3 million tons of low-carbon ammonia fuel by 2030, with a significant increase to 30 million tons by 2050. By 2050, Japan aims to establish a supply chain on a global scale, with Japanese companies playing a central role in handling up to 100 million tons both domestically and internationally.
■Marubeni’s Future Vision
Through the joint ownership of this ammonia carrier, Marubeni aims to deepen its experience in ammonia transportation and contribute to establishing a global value chain for low-carbon ammonia. This aligns with its mid-to-long-term strategy to support global climate change initiatives.
■Company Profile: Solvang ASA
- Company Name: Solvang ASA
- Location: Stavanger, Rogaland, Kingdom of Norway
- Founded: 1936
- CEO: Mr. Edvin Endresen
- Business: Ownership and operation of ammonia, LPG, and ethylene carriers
■Vessel Specifications: “Clipper Neptun”
- Vessel Name: Clipper Neptun
- Year Built: 2008
- Shipyard: Hyundai Heavy Industries
- Flag State: Norway
- Maximum Cargo Capacity: 60,200 cbm
〆丸紅、ノルウェーのソルバン（Solvang）とアンモニア輸送船を共同保有
丸紅は２０２４年９月３０日、ノルウェーの海運会社Solvang ASAと合弁会社を設立し、アンモニア輸送船”MV Clipper Neptun”を共同保有することに合意したと発表した。Solvangはアンモニアの海上輸送量の10%のシェアを握るトッププレーヤーであり、同社はアンモニア海上輸送に関する豊富な知識と経験を持つ。
近年、アンモニアは肥料や石炭火力発電用石炭との混焼、船舶用燃料として需要が高まっている。今後、海運業界では舶用燃料としてアンモニアを使用する場合、アンモニアのサプライチェーンの構築が一つの課題となっている。
丸紅は日本最大手の商社の１社である。船舶ビジネスについては、同社の船舶部が担当している。
※日本語の記事の続きは日本海事新聞で読むことが出来ます。