EU Shipping Emission Regulations to Fully Implement by January 2026
As of January 2026, EU shipping companies must acquire emissions certificates for 100% of their verified CO₂ emissions for voyages related to EU/EFTA ports, up from 40% in 2024 and 70% in 2025. Costs for EU ETS are projected to rise significantly, with estimates by Ship & Bunker indicating increases from $90.67 per ton in 2024 to $319.30 in 2026.
ShipFinex estimates annual CO₂ costs for a 10,000-TEU container ship on the Asia-Europe route will reach €7 to €11 million. The FuelEU Maritime regulation will impose binding reduction targets for carbon intensity, creating a competitive disadvantage for older ships. The combined regulatory environment is expected to result in a market split, benefiting companies with young, efficient fleets while imposing high compliance costs on older operators.
