Despite a continued decrease in the price gap for marine fuels during the first half of the year, demand for exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers)—which mitigate sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions—has significantly surged, countering predictions of a reduction in new installations.
The price differential between high-sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) and very low-sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO)—a critical factor for recouping investments in scrubbers—remains limited for 2025, particularly prior to the Israel-Iran conflict.
For instance, last week, the average price difference at the 20 largest bunkering ports was just $69 per ton, according to Ship & Bunker data.
This spread has stayed below $100 since January, hitting a low of $55.50 per ton in mid-March—the lowest since November 2020.
Data from Clarksons Research reveals a sharp increase in scrubber orders for both new vessels and retrofits, particularly in the tanker and container ship sectors. As of June 1, there were 455 orders for tanker scrubbers, reflecting a 16% rise since February 1.
Orders for container ships equipped with scrubbers have also reached 207, representing another 16% increase.
Additionally, retrofitting existing vessels is gaining momentum, led by container ships, with 127 retrofits underway—a 25% rise since February.
Bulk carriers are not far behind, with 55 retrofits scheduled—more than double the 25 recorded four months ago.
Overall, there are 166 additional scrubber installations planned since February: 107 on new builds and 59 for retrofits.
