Brussels, Belgium. FuelEU compliance has moved beyond regulation to become a commercial optimisation challenge for the shipping industry, according to integrated emissions management service EmissionLink. The company said the shift followed its first FuelEU Maritime pooling cycle, in which 90% of shipowners opted to pool.
First pooling cycle
Through its inaugural pooling submission, EmissionLink said it supported the compliance process for more than 600 vessels and helped clients navigate one of the most complex new regulatory frameworks facing the shipping industry. The company said the process was completed without disruption to clients and included the resolution of technical and regulatory issues, including complexities involving ice-class vessels.
Market effects
EmissionLink said the first compliance cycle has already changed the structure of the FuelEU pooling market. With pooling activity and outcomes now more visible, shipowners and pooling providers have access to more intelligence than during the early stages of the regulation.
Outlook
As a result, the company said competition has increased, particularly as companies holding surplus positions seek to place volumes carried forward from the 2025 cycle. EmissionLink said recent market indicators point to a buyer-driven environment for FuelEU pooling and expects 2026 pricing to depend on the amount of surplus already in the market, the cost of creating new surplus, movements in alternative fuel prices and the speed at which companies with deficits secure their compliance position.
