Brazil fuels first container ship with ethanol at Santos port

On 12 July 2024, the 13,000‑TEU container vessel CMA CGM IRON was supplied with ethanol at the Port of Santos, marking Brazil's inaugural ethanol fueling of a container ship. The operation was coordinated by sugar‑cane ethanol producer Copersucar, shipping line CMA CGM, and bunkering firm Bunker One, with logistics support from terminal operators in Santos.

The trial demonstrated the technical viability of ethanol as a low‑carbon marine fuel, aiming to cut greenhouse‑gas emissions from a sector responsible for about 3 % of global CO₂. Officials highlighted the potential for Brazil’s large ethanol output to meet future maritime demand, estimating that a 10 % market share could require 50 billion litres of ethanol. The vessel departed for Sri Lanka, where its performance will be evaluated over a 15,000‑kilometre voyage.

Stakeholders view the success as a step toward broader adoption of renewable fuels in shipping, supporting Brazil’s strategy to expand biofuel markets beyond road transport and to position the country as a supplier of low‑carbon marine energy.