The Shanghai International Shipping Green Fuel Trading Platform officially went live on October 21, 2026. Developed and operated by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange (SSE), the platform aims to support the decarbonisation of international shipping by providing integrated digital services covering the full life cycle of green marine fuels.

 

Its services span certification, registration, trading, settlement, bunkering and the retirement of associated environmental attributes. The platform is designed to provide market participants with professional trading services and supporting capabilities, contributing to Shanghai’s development as an international hub for green marine fuel bunkering and trading.

 

The global shipping industry is accelerating its transition towards lower-carbon operations, with alternative fuels such as green methanol and biofuels gaining traction. As the market develops, participants increasingly need services for matching supply and demand, organising transactions, managing environmental attributes and accessing market price information. Improving resource circulation, transaction transparency and the management of environmental claims has become increasingly important to the development of a well-functioning green fuel market.

 

In February 2026, ten government departments, including China’s Ministry of Transport, issued an implementation plan supporting the development of Shanghai as an international green fuel bunkering and trading hub. The plan supports the Shanghai Shipping Exchange in developing green fuel trading services, exploring an end-to-end process for the certification, registration, trading, settlement and retirement of environmental attributes, and developing green fuel price indices with international influence.

 

On June 30, 2026, the Shanghai International Shipping Green Fuel Sustainable Development Conference was held, jointly hosted by Shanghai Exchange Group and Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd. (SIPG), with the Shanghai Shipping Exchange and SIPG Energy serving as co-organisers.

 

During the conference, the Global Sustainable Transport Innovation and Knowledge Center, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Transport, the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration, the Hongkou District People’s Government and Shanghai Exchange Group signed an agreement to jointly establish the International Certification System Affairs Center for Green Marine Fuels. The initiative aims to coordinate the development of green fuel certification, trading and bunkering services in Shanghai.

 

Following a period of development and trial operation, the platform was officially launched during the 2026 North Bund Forum, marking further progress in Shanghai’s efforts to strengthen its international shipping centre.

 

Six-Stage Workflow Supports Full-Life-Cycle Green Fuel Services

 

The platform operates on the principles of openness, fairness and impartiality, with a focus on professional, safe and efficient services. It seeks to connect green fuel resources, associated environmental attributes and shipping demand throughout the fuel life cycle.

 

Its integrated workflow comprises six stages: certification, registration, trading, settlement, bunkering and retirement. Certification verifies fuel-related attributes and compliance with applicable standards, while registration records information on market participants and fuel products. Trading and settlement support the matching of supply and demand and the fulfilment of commercial transactions. Bunkering and retirement link physical fuel use with the management and recording of associated environmental attributes.

 

By connecting these stages, the platform aims to establish a more consistent and transparent framework for green marine fuel transactions, from production to end use.

 

The platform serves green fuel producers, suppliers, traders and service providers. Its services include information registration, trade matching, settlement and consulting, helping market participants exchange information and develop business relationships.

 

By consolidating information on green fuel supply and demand and expanding access to trading services, the platform aims to improve market information flows and facilitate the allocation of green fuel resources.

 

The value of green fuels depends not only on the fuels themselves but also on their production pathways, sustainability certification and associated environmental attributes. The platform is developing services covering certification information, the registration and transfer of environmental attributes, and their retirement following bunkering. These functions are intended to support traceability, more orderly transfers and accurate records of attribute use, helping improve market transparency.

 

As the market develops, information on supply and demand, transaction prices and price movements across different fuel types will become increasingly important for producers, traders, bunkering operators and shipping companies.

 

Drawing on the industry resources and trading service capabilities of the Shanghai Shipping Exchange, the platform will progressively build up market information to support analysis, commercial decision-making and the development of green fuel price indices. These efforts are expected to improve price-information services and strengthen Shanghai’s role in resource allocation and price discovery in the international green marine fuel market.

 

Digital Services Support Shipping Decarbonisation

 

The platform’s launch is an important step in Shanghai’s efforts to develop an international green marine fuel trading hub and strengthen the market infrastructure supporting the sector.

 

By integrating trading services with the management of environmental attributes, the platform provides a dedicated service framework for green fuel market participants. It is expected to facilitate the circulation of green fuels, promote collaboration across the industry value chain and support the green transformation of Shanghai’s international shipping centre, contributing to the wider decarbonisation of global shipping.

 

Compiled from：Eastmoney