CMA CGM Completes First Bioethanol Bunkering of Container Ship in Brazil
The CMA CGM IRON was bunkered with bioethanol at the Port of Santos, Brazil, on July 12, 2026. This operation marks the first time a deep-sea containership has received bioethanol in Brazil, highlighting its potential as a marine fuel.
CMA CGM Group, a global shipping and logistics company, in collaboration with Copersucar and Bunker One, has successfully completed the first bioethanol bunkering operation for a deep-sea containership in Brazil. The event took place on July 12, 2026, at the Port of Santos, with the vessel CMA CGM IRON receiving the biofuel.
This pioneering operation positions Brazil at the forefront of maritime decarbonization efforts and demonstrates bioethanol's viability as a competitive, renewable marine fuel. The bioethanol supplied by Copersucar originates from a well-established and certified supply chain, with production often utilizing degraded pastureland and adhering to strict sustainability requirements.
The bunkering involved significant logistical and operational coordination among various stakeholders, including the transportation of bioethanol to the port, its storage, and transfer to the vessel via a specialized barge, all conducted under stringent international safety standards.
The Port of Santos is positioning itself and Brazil as a future hub for low-carbon marine fuels in South America. CMA CGM is committed to achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2050 and anticipates operating approximately 200 containerships capable of using low-carbon energies by 2031. The CMA CGM IRON is the first of twelve such vessels equipped with an engine certified to operate on bioethanol.