RFOcean, a fully integrated European shipping company, has signed a binding long-term off-take agreement with ETFuels to purchase e-methanol at a fixed price from 2030. This is not a letter of intent. Not a memorandum of understanding. Not a term sheet. This is a fully executed, bankable commercial contract with guaranteed revenue certainty, structured to support project finance.

The agreement positions RFOcean ahead of binding and punitive new EU maritime emissions rules which came into force in 2025.

Under the EU's FuelEU Maritime regulation, shipping companies face escalating penalties if they do not reduce the carbon intensity of their fleet. Most operators have been slow to act. RFOcean is betting that being early pays off, both by avoiding future penalties, and by gaining a competitive edge in a market where e-methanol will likely be scarce.

RFOcean has already ordered eight new diesel electric powered, methanol ready/fitted chemical tankers built for the European regional trade, making it one of the top five owners of methanol-capable vessels globally. This offtake agreement ensures those ships will have access to compliant fuel at predictable prices, and in view of the penalty costs the offtake agreement is commercially driven.

'This isn't just about compliance, it's about competitive positioning,' said Fredrik Rye-Florentz, CEO of RFOcean. 'We believe compliant fuel will be scarce. By locking in supply now at fixed prices, we can offer our customers certainty and be in the forefront of a development which makes commercial sense today.'

For ETFuels, the deal validates its pan-Atlantic e-methanol production platform and demonstrates that regulatory clarity can translate into bankable commercial commitments. The company is developing large-scale e-methanol projects across Europe and the United States.

'This is a landmark transaction,' said Lara Naqushbandi, CEO of ETFuels. 'It shows that astute shipping companies are willing to move early and lock in green fuel supply. The deal also sends a clear message to policymakers: stable regulations unlock investment. Any weakening of the EU's green fuel standards would undermine momentum at exactly the wrong time.'

The agreement also reflects growing concerns about energy security. By sourcing fuel which is produced domestically and meets EU standards, RFOcean reduces its exposure to global fossil fuel price swings and geopolitical supply risks.