International body clears Brazilian corn ethanol for use in ships

Brazil has secured a significant regulatory step for its corn ethanol at the International Maritime Organization, giving the country an advantage over the United States and other competitors in the race to supply biofuels for ocean-going vessels.

Brazilian corn ethanol, produced from the country’s second corn crop, is the first shipping-compatible biofuel to have its carbon footprint defined and approved by the IMO, according to Captain Flavio Mathuiy, who represents Brazil at the global maritime regulator. The London-based IMO did not respond to a request for comment during a public holiday in the United Kingdom.

The move removes a key obstacle ahead of the entry into force of the IMO framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping, providing a boost for the country’s corn producers and ethanol sellers. The IMO framework was approved in April 2025, but its adoption was postponed until December 2026 after pressure from the United States. The global shipping industry accounts for 2% to 3% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, according to the IMO.

The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee, which met in London last week, approved a “default value” of 20.8 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule for Brazilian ethanol made from second-crop corn. The reference value for bunker fuel oil is 93.3 grams of carbon dioxide per megajoule. “The approval of the default value signals to shipping companies which alternative fuels they can choose,” Mathuiy said.

According to him, Brazil is also seeking technical approval at the IMO for sugarcane ethanol and biodiesel made from soybean oil and animal fat for use in maritime transport.

Source: Valor Econômico

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