In April 2023, the European Parliament and Council voted to implement changes to the EU ETS, including the sectoral expansion to the maritime industry as of 2024. Many companies in the maritime industry, such as ship owners and operators, will, therefore, be exposed to the EU ETS and its prices. In particular, shipping companies – often the ship owners - will have to manage their compliance obligations and costs. This can be done by purchasing allowances on the EU ETS primary market, operated by EEX, as well as on the spot and derivatives secondary market. On this page, you will find information on the EU ETS specific to the maritime industry, including information on the regulatory background, purchasing options and market access.

    The leading marketplace for freight and carbon

    With a global network of market participants from financial, energy, and commodity markets as well as extensive experience in both emissions and in maritime markets, EEX is a reliable partner in the development of sustainable shipping. EEX is a leading marketplace for shipping derivatives (FFAs), with around 40% of global volumes in dry freight derivatives, and the central primary auction platform (EU ETS Auctions) on behalf of the EU Commission and the participating EU member and EEA EFTA states. EEX also offers secondary carbon markets for spot and derivatives.

    EEX Markets

    For the fulfilment of their compliance obligation, shipping companies can buy and sell allowances on the EEX primary (spot auction) and secondary market (spot continuous and derivatives). As the price for allowances is market-based and not fixed, operators may want to hedge their exposure to price movements through futures and options over a longer period. Futures are listed at EEX up to nine years ahead. Since 2021, EEX has been publishing a Zero Carbon Freight Index (ZCFI) to provide companies with visibility as regards the carbon price for dry freight.

     

    EU ETS Auctions

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    EU ETS Derivatives and Spot

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    EU ETS for Maritime

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    Access Options

    The markets can be accessed through direct membership options, as well as indirect access providers.

    Direct membership

    Direct membership requires registration as a trading participant to trade on a specific market or product. You can find out more about direct membership here.

    Indirect access

    Indirect access is provided through EEX members, such as banks or other intermediaries. Depending on the individual access provider, different services are offered to non-members:

    • own trading frontend
    • screen of the Access Provider, or
    • on behalf service by the Access Provider.

    Find out more about Indirect Access (eex.com)  and Brokers (eex.com) here.

    Intermediaries for the EU ETS*

    We are pleased to announce that the below companies have agreed to provide market access for the procurement or trading of EU Allowances (EUA) as intermediaries, thereby supporting the supply of EUA for all obligated companies.

    EEX also welcomes interested members to join this list and advises to get in contact with us via emissions@eex.com.

    Intermediaries for Shipping ETS*

    Address

    Gustav Mahlerlaan 10, 1082PP Amsterdam, The Netherlands  

    Telephone

    +49 (0)1525 838 8550

    Contact

    Christian Fleischer

    E-Mail

    ces-markets@nl.abnamro.com

    Website

    ABN AMRO Bank N.V.

    Address

    Strawinskylaan 3127

    NL-1077ZX Amsterdam

    Telephone

    +31 (202) / 199 225;

    +31 (202) 199 202

    Contact

    Dario Pabst; Luc Helmsing

    E-Mail

    dpabst@actcommodities.com

    lhelmsing@actcommodities.com 

    Website

    ACT Financial Solutions B.V.

    Address

    Beursplein 5, 1012JW, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Telephone

    +31 207657368

    Contact

    Jef Geelen

    E-Mail

    jef.geelen@afsgroup.nl

    Website

    AFS Execution Services B.V

    Address

    Neuer Jungfernstieg 20

    20354 Hamburg

    Deutschland

    E-Mail

    https://www.berenberg.de/en/contact-forms/become-a-shipping-client/                                

    https://www.berenberg.de/contact-forms/schifffahrtskunde-werden/

    Website

    Berenberg

    Address

    10 Harewood Ave, London NW1 6AA

    Telephone

    +44 75951889

    Contact

    Simon J Moore

    E-Mail

    Simon.j.Moore@uk.bnpparibas.com

    Website

    BNP Paribas

    Address

    Mauritskade 1, 2514 HC The Hague

    Telephone

    +31 (0) 6 194 800 46

    Contact

    Wouter Alblas

    E-Mail

    wouter@brainchildcapital.com

    Website

    Brainchild Capital Investments B.V..

    Address

    245 Hammersmith Road, London, W6 8PW

    Telephone

    20734835000

    Contact

    James Rosser

    E-Mail

    commodityteam@cfp.energy

    Website

    CFP Energy.

    Address

    Herengracht 575-577, 1017 CD, Amsterdam

    Telephone

    +31 (0)20 215 70 58

    Contact

    Max Spanjer

    E-Mail

    euets@greenstar-capital.com 

    max.spanjer@greenstar-capital.com 

    Website

    Greenstar Capital

    Address

    37-41 Mortimer Street, W1T 3JH, London, UK

    Telephone

    +442070387691

    Contact

    Emilio Fontana

    E-Mail

    info@greyepoch.com

    Website

    Grey Epoch Europe Ltd

    Address

    Av. Louise 475, 1050 Bruxelles

    Telephone

    +32 268 10 225

    Contact

    Frederic Bouthillier

    E-Mail

    shipping@vertis.com

    Website

    Vertis Environmental Finance


    *The list is constantly updated, non-exhaustive and comprises companies that have expressed their interest in being listed.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    The European Commission provides comprehensive information on its websites: EU Commission Shipping, EU Commission answers to FAQsEMSA webpage.

    EU ETS regulatory and legal FAQs for the maritime sector

    From 2024 onwards, shipping companies are liable under the EU ETS and must surrender allowances in line with their verified and reported emissions.

    The responsible entity will be the ‘shipping company’. This is defined as the shipowner or any other organisation or person, such as the manager or the bareboat charterer, that has assumed the responsibility for the operation of the ship from the shipowner and that, on assuming such responsibility, has agreed to take over all the duties and responsibilities imposed by the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention, set out in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No. 336/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council.*

    However, since this entity is not always directly in charge of the operation and, thus, emission outputs of a ship, a specific clause was added to the Directive. Specifically, the shipping company will be entitled, under national law, to claim reimbursement for the costs arising from the surrender of allowances from the entity that is directly responsible for the decisions affecting the emissions of the ship. This will, however, serve to affect the compliance obligations of the shipping company and its liability for that towards the administering authority.

    * As currently defined in the preliminary published EU ETS Directive: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/PE-9-2023-INIT/en/pdf , pending formal publication in the EU’s Official Journal.

    Generally, CO2 emissions from ships above 5,000 gross tonnage that carry cargo or passengers for commercial purposes will be within the scope of the EU ETS. This will be expanded to CH4 and N20 as of 2026. Large offshore ships will also be included as of 2027.

    Certain exemptions exist to address specific national circumstances, such as for small islands or public service contracts.

    There will be no free allocation of allowances to shipping companies. From the start, all allowances will be auctioned. However, to ensure a smooth inclusion of the sector in the EU ETS, the surrendering of allowances by shipping companies will be gradually increased with respect to verified emissions reported for the years 2024 and 2025. This means, shipping companies will be liable to surrender allowances for 40% of verified emissions for 2024. In 2025, this increases to 70%. As of 2026 and each year thereafter, shipping companies will have to surrender allowances reflecting 100% of their verified emissions.

    Emissions which are in scope for the ETS are all emissions resulting from intra-EU voyages, all emissions occurring while the vessel is within an EU port, 50% of emissions resulting from voyages to the EU from a 3rd country port and 50% of emissions resulting from outgoing voyages from an EU port to its next 3rd country port.

    There will are no specific ‘shipping’ allowances available and the addition of the sector is reflected in the overall EUA cap. It is correct that aviation allowances (EUAA), which have been dedicated to aircraft operators, still exist. However, since Phase 4 (2021) of the EU ETS, EUA and EUAA have been fully fungible, and they can be used by all types of operators.

    Allowances in the EU ETS have no expiration date. They can be purchased now, kept for a certain period, and surrendered in later years. It is also common to hedge the respective demand and price for later years with the respective contracts on the futures market. At EEX, you can trade future expiries up to 9 years ahead.

    Operators have to surrender allowances for a specific calendar year by 30 April of the following year. As of 2024, the allowances have to be surrendered by 30th of September of the following year.

    European Emission Allowances (EUAs) are purchased and traded in the compliance market and their use for surrendering by the covered companies is mandatory. The two are not interchangeable and voluntary carbon offsets cannot be used to fulfil a company’s obligations in the compliance market.

    The EU ETS is a volume-based system with free price formation and without a price limit or floor.

    However, within the system, there is the possibility of an increase in the supply of allowances in the event of extreme price fluctuations under Article 29a of the EU ETS Directive.

    Operators have to surrender allowances for compliance from their operator holding account which is set up by their respective national authority. Shipping companies are expected to receive a dedicated type of operator holding account which will be detailed in the Registry Regulation. Each shipping company shall open one shipping operator holding account with their administering authority.  


    Purchasing and trading ETS emission allowances

    As the price for allowances is market-based and not fixed, operators may want to hedge their exposure to carbon price movements. Allowances can be bought and traded on a spot basis (auction and continuous trading) or on the futures market up to nine years ahead.

    The primary market is set to a tradeable minimum of 500t and the secondary market to 1000t.

    Data (e.g. price, volumes, OI) can be found on the EEX website: Spot, Futures.

    Generally, there are no structural price differences between the primary and secondary markets. Price differences may occur, for instance, due to the different “time stamps” of trades or size.

    Primary auction fees result from the auctioning regulation and tender procedures. The fees for the secondary market are based on commercial decisions.


    EU ETS market access for shipping

    The different membership options are outlined on the EEX website.

    Also, certain EEX members provide indirect access to the primary auctions and the secondary markets: Indirect Access Secondary Market, Primary Auctions.

    More information is available in the document Participation in Emissions Auctions*

    *Please note that the auctions regulation is currently being revised and updated.

    In principle, EEX is a wholesale market. Whether direct membership or indirect market access is preferable depends on the individual situation and various other factors. Please contact sales@eex.com for details.

    Members can add further contracts if desired. Indirect participants should contact their access providers for more information.

    The nEHS membership is customised for the nEHS market only, please chose one of the options outlined on the EEX website.

     

    A variety of Voluntary Carbon Contracts is offered at our EEX Group Exchange Nodal.


    The maritime market in the EU ETS

    This is what the EU calls fleet optimisation. The EU does not consider this a large risk, as it is does not really constitute evasion. There are also expectations that this type of ‘carbon arbitrage’ would be short lived given the progressive global standards for ship designs, and the potential for emissions schemes in other jurisdictions.

    For example, if a ship owner offers a voyage rate for a particular cargo, they may quote a ‘carbon-included’ price, similar to how bunker fuel is priced into the $/ton voyage charter rate. If a vessel is hired on a time-charter basis, the charterer is principally responsible for all operational costs of the vessel. Since the emissions report is finalised after the voyage is concluded, there may need to be provisions for either deposits or other payment agreements to be settled in favour of the ship owner, after the vessel has discharged its cargo. Alternatively, a charterer could arrange for their own emission allowances to be transferred to the ship owner after the voyage has concluded.

    In general, it is expected that the costs of carbon allowances will be passed through to the delivered commodity price. However, the EU’s analysis shows low price impacts on industrial commodities overall, and only a minor negative change in demand due to carbon costs.


    Webinars and Resources

    Webinar: EU ETS for the Maritime Sector – Market access

    21 Mar 2024 | 10am CET

    Join a line-up of expert speakers as they discuss the inclusion of the Maritime sector into the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

    More Information

    Notice: To activate the video, please click on the picture. Please note that after activation your data will be forwarded to YouTube.

    Notice: To activate the video, please click on the picture. Please note that after activation your data will be forwarded to YouTube.

    Contact

    You have questions? Contact our experts.

    Tanja Listner

    Senior Sales Manager Environmental Products

    +49 341 2156-396 tanja.listner@eex.com

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