Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 21, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleMaersk tests Brazilian ethanol blend to reduce shipping emissions. Success could boost ethanol demand and help achieve net-zero by 2040.
By Roberto Samora
SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Danish shipping company Maersk is testing a blend of Brazilian ethanol with methanol and marine diesel - known as "bunker" - for its vessel engines as part of its efforts to further decarbonize operations, the company announced on Monday.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
The initiative could open a new market for Brazil's ethanol industry while helping to reduce the maritime shipping sector's carbon footprint, which currently accounts for about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
BY THE NUMBERS
Maersk, which represents 15% of the global maritime shipping market, is testing a blend with 10% of ethanol. If the whole industry adopted the fuel mix, it could create demand for 50 billion liters of ethanol globally per year. Brazil's expected production this year is around 35 billion liters.
KEY QUOTES
"This is the first time ethanol is being burned in a two-stroke engine that's four stories tall - it's a completely different scale of research and level of concern," said Danilo Veras, VP of Regulatory Policies at Maersk Latam.
CONTEXT
Maersk, which aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, chose the Brazilian ethanol for the test because it comes from existing sugarcane areas or, when corn-based, mostly from the same fields as soybeans, lowering potential impacts for deforestation, according to Veras.
WHAT'S NEXT
Maersk will complete ethanol blend tests in methanol-powered vessels by October 23, followed by bunker fuel testing. If successful, the company would begin negotiations with major Brazilian ethanol producers, including Raizen, Copersucar, Inpasa, FS and Atvos.
(Reporting by Roberto Samora; Writing by Fernando Cardoso; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Ethanol is a type of alcohol used as a renewable fuel source, often derived from plants like sugarcane and corn. It can be blended with gasoline or other fuels to reduce emissions.
Decarbonization refers to the process of reducing carbon dioxide emissions associated with energy production and consumption, aiming for a lower carbon footprint.
Marine diesel is a type of fuel used in marine engines, typically derived from crude oil, and is essential for powering ships and vessels.
Greenhouse gas emissions are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and climate change. Common examples include carbon dioxide and methane.
A two-stroke engine is an internal combustion engine that completes a power cycle in two strokes of the piston, allowing for higher power output in a smaller engine size.
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