By the end of October 2025, six months had passed since the implementation of the Mediterranean Emission Control Area (ECA). This article will set out to review what’s changed in terms of the fuel mix and fuel quality across the region between 1 November 2024 and 31 October 2025.

Pre-Mediterranean ECA

The six months leading up to the implementation of the Mediterranean ECA (1 November to 30 April 2025), VPS tested marine fuels representing 1,610,852 mt, bunkered in the Top 10 Mediterranean ports. This consisted of 53% VLSFO, 28% HSFO, 16% MGO, 2% ULSFO and 1% biofuels. These Top 10 Mediterranean ports during the six months leading up to the ECA coming into force provided approximately 90% of the total fuel tested by VPS from the whole region. The breakdown by port and fuel type in mt was as follows:

Over the six month period pre-ECA (Nov 24 to Apr 25), 5.5%, by volume, of all fuels bunkered across the Top 10 Mediterranean ports, were off-specification. However, by fuel type over that time period, the following off-specification rates were observed:

• VLSFO (6%)
• HSFO (6%)
• MGO (3%)
• ULSFO (2%)
• Biofuels (0%)

In terms of the off-specification parameters by fuel type pre-ECA, these were mainly the following:

• VLSFO – Viscosity, Cat-fines
• HSFO – Viscosity, Density, Water
• MGO – Flash Point
• ULFSO – Pour Point

Post-Mediterranean ECA

From the implementation of the Mediterranean ECA on 1 May until 31 October 2025, VPS tested marine fuels representing 1,888,799 mt from the Top 10 Mediterranean ports. This consisted of 30% VLSFO, 29% HSFO, 30% MGO, 8% ULSFO and 4% biofuels.

Looking at the Top 10 Mediterranean ports since the start of the ECA and up to 31 October, these ports have supplied approximately 90% of the total fuel tested by VPS, which is a similar percentage to the six-month period pre ECA.

The breakdown by port and fuel type in mt is as follows:

Impact of the Mediterranean ECA

The relative percentage volume of VLSFO bunkered in the ECA has decreased significantly since its implementation, whilst HSFO has increased slightly, with MGO, ULSFO and biofuel volumes all dramatically increasing in volumes.

However, looking at the actual volumes post-ECA versus pre-ECA, VLSFO has decreased by -278k mt, whilst HSFO (+89k mt), MGO (+300k mt), ULSFO (+112k mt) and biofuels (+56k mt), have all increased, indicating an increased mix in the use of compliant fuels (<0.1% sulphur) and scrubber usage across the Mediterranean ECA.

The combined off-specification rate for the Top 10 Mediterranean ports, across all fuels since the implementation of the ECA, is 5.1%, which is only slightly lower to the pre-ECA off specification rate of 5.5%. However, by fuel type over that time period, the following off specification rates were observed:

• VLSFO 5%
• HSFO 3%
• MGO 4%
• ULSFO 20%
• Biofuels 2%

In terms of the off-specification parameters by fuel type post ECA, these were mainly the following:

• VLSFO – Sulphur, Cat-fines
• HSFO – Density
• MGO – Pour Point, FAME
• ULFSO – Pour Point, Sulphur, TSP, CCAI, Water, Viscosity
• Biofuels - FAME

The high level of ULSFO off-specifications, came from 78 bunker stems (29k mt) out of 341 delivered stems (148k mt):

Summary

As stated, this article compares bunker volumes and quality, six months pre-ECA versus the first six months post-ECA implementation.

Both before and after ECA implementation, the Top 10 Mediterranean ports provide 90% of all fuel within the region.

From these Top 10 Mediterranean ports, VPS tested marine fuels representing 1.9 million mt from the new ECA region compared with 1.6 million mt in the six months leading up to the ECA implementation, showing an almost 20% increase in fuel supply.

Pre-ECA implementation, the fuel mix in the Mediterranean was 53% VLSFO, 28% HSFO, 16% MGO, 2% ULSFO and 1% biofuels. From 1 May 2025, the mix changed to, 30% VLSFO, 29% HSFO, 30% MGO, 8% ULSFO and 4% biofuels.

So, in terms of actual tonnage, VLSFO decreased by 23%, whilst MGO usage increased by 107%. ULSFO supply increased 4-fold and biofuels increased 5-fold.

Overall off-specification rates for all fuels before ECA implementation was 5.5% and over the first six month since the start of the ECA, the rate was 5.1%. Since the ECA implementation, off specification rates for VLSFO and HSFO have reduced to 5% and 3%, respectively. However, MGO off-specification rates have increased to 4%. But the most worrying off specification rates are for ULSFO which have shown a tenfold increase from 2% to 20% since the start of the ECA, with the main off-specification parameters for ULSFO being pour point, sulphur, TSP, CCAI, water and viscosity.

So in conclusion, as anticipated, the implementation of the Mediterranean ECA on 1 May 2025 has seen a significant change in the Mediterranean fuel mix, with a significant reduction in VLSFO supply and demand, but a major increase in the supply and demand of MGO, ULSFO and biofuels. A 20% increase in HSFO supply would indicate an increase in scrubber-fitted vessels and/or existing scrubber-fitted vessels taking more HSFO fuel.

The wide range of off-specifications across the fuel mix continues to highlight the need for proactive fuel testing to protect the vessel, their crew and the environment. The ultimate outcome being a successful reduction in SOx, NOx, PM and GHG emissions across the Mediterranean Sea.

By Steve Bee, VPS Group Marketing & Strategic Projects Director