OCI and Victrol: Developing Clean Ammonia Supply Chains

OCI Global and VICTROL have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a scalable supply chain for clean ammonia bunkering in Europe.

Ammonia is emerging as a clean and scalable maritime fuel which can be easily integrated into the global supply chain. 

The partnership will transform the maritime industry, moving it towards a more sustainable future. 

Maritime decarbonisation

OCI Global is a leading producer and distributor of ammonia, nitrate fertilisers and hydrogen products and solutions. 

It sources clean ammonia from key global markets, partnering with shipowners and industrial users to encourage the adoption of ammonia as a fuel source.

It has the capacity to serve third-party demand for ammonia as it owns and operates the only independent large-scale ammonia import terminal in the Port of Rotterdam. 

Victrol is a transportation, logistics and storage company with more than 50 years of experience in shipping and logistics. 

It specialises in R&D, construction, managing and operating barges and coastal ships. As a company, it understands the need for a new strategy for shipping in order to make a positive climate impact.

Therefore, Victrol is moving towards future-proofing logistics and shipping solutions as it moves towards cleaner practices.

It is developing sustainable tank barges to meet energy transition and greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Now, it has signed an MoU with OCI to develop a brand new ammonia bunker barge. This will deliver refrigerated ammonia to inland customers, as well as perform ship-to-ship bunkering for ammonia-fuelled vessels. 

Bunkering is the supplying of fuel to a ship and has various methods including ship-to-ship transfers, shore-based facilities and bunker barges. 

Through the partnership, these companies will help with maritime industry decarbonisation. 

“Ammonia is essential to the energy transition – the most scalable, policy-backed and commercially viable clean hydrogen solution available today," says Aviv Bar Tal, Global Vice President at OCI.

"The unparalleled combination of OCI’s expansive sourcing network, proprietary import terminal and valuable end-user partnerships, with VICTROL’s unique expertise in bunkering infrastructure, is creating Europe’s first end-to-end ammonia fuel supply chain.

"Together, we are proud to be positioning Rotterdam as the leading global hub for clean ammonia and maritime decarbonisation.”

Building fuel supply chains

Through the collaboration, OCI Ammonia Distribution - OCI's subsidiary - will lead the sourcing and import of clean ammonia. 

It will take blue and green ammonia from key production hubs across Asia, the Middle East, the US and North Africa.

The OCI Terminal Europoort (OTE) is the ammonia import terminal in the Port of Rotterdam. This is where the ammonia molecules will be transported to by sea.

Once at the port, they will be safely stored before distribution and manufacturing into marine fuel.

A growing network of shipowners are are adopting ammonia as a clean fuel alternative for their ships.

This is where Victrol comes in.

Victrol will be using its construction and operating expertise to design, build and operate a liquid ammonia bunker barge.

The barge will load the refrigerated ammonia at OCI's terminal before delivering it to ships in the ports and inland industrial off-takers. 

Victrol's expertise has proven it as a reliable and safe company to ensure last-mile delivery to vessels making the switch to ammonia fuel.

Plans for expansion

The Port of Rotterdam is a key player in this MoU, as OCI relies on its owned and operated terminal in the port.

The port is strategically placed to allow for seamless connection between overseas supply and European demand.

As a result, OTE is positioned very well to help with the fuel transition.

Moreover, plans are in place to expand the terminal from 30,000 tonnes to 90,000 tonnes. 

This expansion and the partnership will help transform the global shipping industry. 

"The port of Rotterdam is preparing for a multi-fuel future to decarbonise global shipping, with ammonia as one of the future fuels," adds Matthijs van Doorn, Vice President Commercial at Port of Rotterdam Authority.

"It is great to see this strategic partnership develop after the successful ammonia bunkering pilot in April 2025, where both OCI and Victrol also played an important role.

"Such collaborations are instrumental to create safe and sustainable supply chains and are key for Rotterdam to advance its preparedness for ammonia bunkering.”

New sustainable supply chains are being formed thanks to this partnership, encouraging a reshaping of the global maritime industry.

With the combined dedication, skills and resources of these three companies, ammonia may become a key part of the maritime energy transition.