Global top 10 marine fuels supplier, Monjasa, delivered a total of 900 metric tonnes (mts) of B30 biofuel to the NYK operated vessel, Hestia Leader, in the Port of Cristobal, Panama on 2 February 2025.

This ship-to-ship operation was performed by the Monjasa Thunder (19,991 dwt) and marked the first ISCC-certified biofuels supply in Panama and the establishment of a scalable 2nd generation marine biofuels supply chain. This setup is capable of supplying a total of 5,000-7,000 mts monthly.

Most recently, on 24 March 2025, the Panama Canal Authority announced the introduction of a NetZero Slot designed to support and reward shipowners and operators on their journey towards decarbonisation.

General Manager Latin America, Jonas Bruslund:

“The introduction of biofuels in Panama has progressed slower than in major bunkering hubs like Singapore or Rotterdam, mainly due to lack of local feedstock and customer commitments. However, we have now developed a viable strategy with a longstanding business partner to ship biofuels products from Europe for the benefit of shipowners operating in the Panama Canal area. The Panama Canal has a strong agenda to promote low-carbon fuels and higher energy efficiency and we are pleased to challenge the status quo and actively support these efforts.”

Monjasa established its local maritime logistics in 2015 and today manages seven vessels across the Atlantic and Pacific areas of the Panama Canal.

Drop-in fuels for immediate emission reductions

As the shipping industry strives to decrease its environmental footprint, biofuels offer a short and mid-term solution for reducing carbon emissions. Biofuels thereby represent an accessible option for shipowners to comply with the increasing shipping regulations, Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and the annual operational carbon intensity indicator (CII).

In the Americas, Monjasa has already established biofuels partnerships across the port of Callao in Peru and in Cartagena, Colombia.

ISCC-certified feedstock and operation

As an ISCC-certified partner, Monjasa allows all involved parties to trace feedstock used to produce biofuels from the point of origin to the end consumer. On this first supply in Panama, the B30 product consisted of 30% Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) and 70% Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO). Monjasa still awaits the shift away from sporadic biofuels inquiries to a broader pick-up in demand. Until then, Monjasa aims to continue establishing a string of global biofuels supply locations to support the shipping industry in meeting IMO’s 2050 climate change commitments.