TRADING giant Trafigura has selected ammonia as the green fuel of choice for the propulsion systems of four 45,000 cu m medium gas carriers to be built by HD Hyundai Mipo in South Korea.

According to a stock exchange filing by the shipbuilder, the delivery schedule for the four vessels — originally ordered by an unnamed Asian shipping company — has been delayed from November 2027 to July 2028. The price per vessel has also increased significantly, from $69.7m to $82.5m.

Hyundai Mipo later confirmed that Trafigura was the customer behind the order. The revised schedule and price reflect a final agreement between the two parties to install ammonia dual-fuel engines, at the request of the client.

Industry sources familiar with the matter said the dual-fuel ammonia engine had been an option from the start.

Construction of the vessels is expected to begin in the second half of 2026 at Hyundai Mipo’s shipyard in Ulsan.

The newbuildings will be capable of operating on both ammonia and traditional fuel, and will incorporate a range of eco-friendly technologies, including selective catalytic reduction systems and various disaster prevention features.

The cargo tanks will be designed to carry liquefied petroleum gas, ammonia, and vinyl chloride monomer.

The order aligns with Trafigura’s broader strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of its shipping fleet by 25% by 2030.

Hyundai Mipo secured an order from Exmar for the world’s first ocean-going ammonia dual-fuel LPG carriers in 2023, with construction starting in late 2024 and delivery scheduled by 2026.

“Ammonia, which can be quickly commercialised, is coming to the fore in the shipping industry as an eco-friendly next-generation fuel,” the yard said. “We will focus on securing new technologies to occupy future markets.”