Italy Bunker Fuel Market Overview, 2030

Italy's bunker fuel market has evolved significantly, particularly in its adoption of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a marine fuel. A notable development is the Adriatic LNG terminal, Italy's largest LNG terminal, which has a regasification capacity of 9 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually. In 2024, Dutch infrastructure group VTTI and German asset manager IKAV acquired a majority stake in the terminal, with Italian gas grid operator Snam increasing its stake to 30%.In 2024, Molgas Group conducted its first LNG bunkering operation in Sicily, marking a significant milestone in Italy's LNG bunkering sector. The operation, a truck-to-ship bunkering at the Port of Trapani, was conducted in collaboration with Caronte & Tourist S.p.A. This event underscores Italy's commitment to expanding its LNG bunkering infrastructure and promoting sustainable maritime fuel solutions. The FSRU Toscana terminal, moored off the Tuscan coastline, has been authorized to provide small-scale LNG services between Livorno and Pisa. This development enhances Italy's LNG bunkering capabilities, facilitating ship-to-ship transfers to smaller LNG vessels and promoting cleaner energy solutions in the maritime sector. Fratelli Cosulich has expanded its LNG barge fleet, aligning with the EU's Emissions Trading System and the forthcoming FuelEU Maritime regulations. The company operates twin small-scale LNG bunker vessels, Alice Cosulich and Paolina Cosulich, with capacities of 8,200 cubic meters each. These vessels serve regions such as Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp and Malaysia, supporting the transition to cleaner marine fuels. Looking ahead, Italy plans to deploy a small-scale LNG bunkering vessel in the Gulf of Naples by 2025.

According to the research report "Italy Bunker Fuel Market Overview, 2030," published by Bonafide Research, the Italy Bunker Fuel Market is expected to reach a market size of more than USD 3.21 Billion by 2030. The vessel, with a capacity of up to 7,500 cubic meters, will offer ship-to-ship and ship-to-truck LNG bunkering services, further enhancing Italy's LNG bunkering infrastructure and supporting the adoption of alternative fuels in the maritime industry.In 2025, Axpo, in collaboration with Gas and Heat and the San Giorgio del Porto shipyard, plans to deploy a small-scale LNG bunkering vessel in the Gulf of Naples. This vessel will offer both ship-to-ship and ship-to-truck LNG bunkering services, marking a significant advancement in Italy's LNG bunkering capabilities. The vessel's design includes a multi-truck bunkering system, enabling simultaneous fueling of multiple trucks, thereby improving efficiency. The FSRU Toscana terminal off the Tuscan coast has been authorized to provide small-scale LNG services between Livorno and Pisa. This development facilitates ship-to-ship LNG transfers to smaller vessels, expanding Italy's LNG bunkering infrastructure without the need for new shoreside terminals. The Italian government has also implemented local regulations to promote the use of ultra-low sulfur fuels. The Port of Livorno introduced rules requiring vessels to use ultra-low sulfur fuels for auxiliary engines when approaching and departing the port, ahead of the Mediterranean Sulphur Emission Control Area's implementation in May 2025.

Despite stringent sulfur regulations, High Sulfur Fuel Oil remains in use, particularly by vessels equipped with exhaust gas cleaning systems, or scrubbers. These systems allow ships to continue using High Sulfur Fuel Oil while complying with sulfur emission limits. In Italy, ports like Genoa and Augusta facilitate the supply of High Sulfur Fuel Oil to such vessels, maintaining its role in the market. Marine Gas Oil is a distillate fuel with lower sulfur content, making it suitable for use in emission control areas where stricter sulfur limits apply. The increased enforcement of sulfur regulations and the expansion of ECAs globally are expected to drive the demand for Marine Gas Oil in the coming years. Liquefied Natural Gas is gaining traction as a cleaner alternative to traditional marine fuels. Liquefied Natural Gas produces significantly lower emissions of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, making it an environmentally friendly option. The adoption of LNG as a marine fuel is supported by growing investments in Liquefied Natural Gas bunkering infrastructure and the increasing number of LNG-fueled vessels being commissioned. Alternative fuels such as biofuels and synthetic fuels are being explored as sustainable alternatives to conventional marine fuels. Biofuels, derived from renewable sources such as vegetable oils and animal fats, offer the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.

These vessels are significant consumers of bunker fuel due to their large size and frequent port calls. In Genoa, one of Italy's busiest ports, container ships are among the primary users of bunker fuel, contributing to the port's status as a major Mediterranean hub for maritime trade and fuel bunkering operations. Bulk carriers, which transport commodities like coal, grain, and iron ore, are among the largest consumers of bunker fuel globally. In Italy, ports such as Livorno and Trieste handle significant bulk carrier traffic, with Livorno's cereal terminals and Trieste's facilities supporting the bulk shipping industry. Oil tankers are major consumers of bunker fuel, accounting for around 35% of global bunker fuel demand. In Italy, ports like Augusta and Genoa serve as key hubs for oil tanker operations, facilitating the transportation of crude oil and refined products. In Italy, companies like Fratelli Cosulich are diversifying their bunker barge fleets to include vessels capable of delivering methanol and biofuels, catering to the needs of chemical tankers and supporting the transition to cleaner marine fuels. General cargo ships, which transport a variety of goods not classified as bulk or containerized cargo, are also significant consumers of bunker fuel. In Italy, ports such as Genoa and Livorno handle substantial general cargo operations, with Livorno's break-bulk terminals supporting the movement of diverse cargo types.

These are large, integrated companies that operate across the entire oil and gas value chain, from exploration and production to refining and distribution. In Italy, Eni is prominent oil major, leading the market with a significant share in refining and marketing petroleum products. Eni's extensive network of service stations and its ownership of refineries provide it with a competitive edge in the bunker fuel distribution sector. These entities are not affiliated with major oil companies but possess substantial infrastructure and resources to operate independently. Companies like Alpha Trading S.p.A. and Fratelli Cosulich are key players in this segment. Alpha Trading, headquartered in Genoa, is recognized as the largest marine fuel supplier in the Mediterranean, with a significant annual sales volume. These distributors typically operate on a regional scale, serving specific ports or local markets. While they may not have the extensive infrastructure of larger distributors, their localized presence allows them to cater to niche markets and provide personalized services. Their agility and customer-focused approach enable them to compete effectively in certain segments of the bunker fuel market.



Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Bunker Fuel Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Type
• High Sulfur Fuel Oil (HSFO)
• Marine Gas Oil (MGO)
• Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
• Other Fuel Types

By Application
• Container Ships
• Bulk Carriers
• Oil Tankers
• Chemical Tankers
• General Cargo Ships
• Others

By Distribution Channel
• Oil Majors
• Large Independent Distributors
• Small Independent Distributors

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to agriculture industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.