Trafigura wraps up ‘first-ever’ co-loaded ammonia and LPG shipment

Multinational commodity trading company Trafigura, in collaboration with ammonia producer CF Industries, has completed what is said to be the “first-ever” co-loaded ammonia and propane shipment operation from the U.S. to Europe.

According to Trafigura, the operation took place in early January 2025 when the Green Power medium gas carrier (MGC) completed a single voyage from the U.S. to Europe loaded with ammonia from CF Industries and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG or propane) in separate tanks.

Courtesy of Trafigura

Courtesy of Trafigura

Ammonia was loaded onto the Green Power from CF Industries’ Donaldsonville, Louisiana, manufacturing complex and LPG was loaded into the vessel’s separate tanks in Corpus Christi, Texas, following a review of applicable regulations, permission from the U.S. Coast Guard, a detailed risk assessment, and planning with the ports, shipowner and operator Purus and STS company International Fender Providers (IFP).

After crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the LPG was discharged via a ship-to-ship (STS) operation in the Mediterranean for use in domestic heating while ammonia was discharged at Tees Port for CF Fertilisers UK.

As explained, this co-loaded vessel project was intended partly as a demonstration of capabilities needed for the efficient and economic transport of low-carbon ammonia to supply ports that may not require a full vessel of ammonia.

The ability to co-load low-carbon ammonia with LPG is one pathway to supporting the scale-up in the availability of low-emission fuels as it continues to be a leading alternative fuel candidate for applications such as coal co-firing and the shipping industry’s transition from heavy fuel oil, Trafigura said.

“We transport LPG and ammonia from the US to Europe on similar ships on a regular basis,” Patricio Norris, Global Head of Ammonia and LPG for Trafigura, stated. “We can improve the economics for our customers and reduce emissions with fewer voyages by safely co-loading Ammonia and LPG in the same vessel.”

Bert Frost, Executive Vice President of Sales, Market Development and Supply Chain at CF Industries, commented: “We appreciate the partnership we have with Trafigura as we take steps together to help prepare for demand growth of low-carbon ammonia and the expected transition of the marine shipping industry to low-carbon ammonia as a fuel.

“Ammonia is safely transported around the world by vessels daily, and this voyage reinforces the flexibility we have to serve emerging low-carbon ammonia demand as we innovate shipping methods with industry-leaders such as Trafigura.”

This milestone operation follows Trafigura’s first ship-to-ship transfer of ammonia in July 2024 for CF Industries, further demonstrating the feasibility of ammonia bunkering in the future as demand grows for the hydrogen-based low-carbon fuels that will enable the shipping industry to decarbonize.

Meanwhile, CF Industries is progressing a carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) project at its Donaldsonville facility that will enable it to produce “substantial volumes” of low-carbon ammonia. The start-up of the CCS project is expected in 2025.

In its recently published 2024 Sustainability Report, Trafigura claimed a 31% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its group-owned operations against an FY2020 baseline with a mid-term target of a 50% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by FY2032.

Among other sustainability highlights, the company pointed out a “continued engagement” on shipping decarbonization through the Global Maritime Forum and First Movers Coalition, and implementation of efficiency measures on the group’s owned and controlled fleet as well as the shipbuilding order for four medium gas carriers capable of using and carrying low carbon ammonia when delivered in 2028.