- ESL Shipping and SSAB extend their long-term agreement for raw material sea transport in the Baltic Sea and North Sea.
- ESL Shipping investing €186M in next-gen, fossil-free vessels powered by green methanol.
- Agreement supports SSAB’s transition to fossil-free steelmaking and reducing logistics emissions.
ESL Shipping and SSAB, a leading global steel manufacturer, have agreed to extend their multi-year partnership for inbound raw material transports across the Baltic Sea and North Sea. The new contract expands their collaboration to include SSAB’s fossil-free sponge iron shipments produced using HYBRIT technology, with options for fossil-free transport solutions.
Under this agreement, ESL Shipping will transport an estimated 6–7 million tons of raw materials annually, reinforcing its key role in SSAB’s supply chain.
“We are extremely pleased to continue our long-term sea transport partnership with SSAB. Our strategy is based on sustainability leadership and together we share the common vision for fossil-free sea transports”, says Mikki Koskinen, Managing Director of ESL Shipping.
“SSAB appreciates the long-term collaboration with ESL Shipping, and the recent extension secures the unique needs of coming years’ raw material supply for our Nordic operations, with high focus on continuous improvements of energy-efficiency and sustainability”, says Jani Verkasalo, Procurement Director of Raw materials and Energy, SSAB.
Advancing Sustainable Maritime Logistics
As SSAB accelerates its transition to fossil-free steel production, ESL Shipping is preparing to support low-emission logistics solutions. In October 2024, the company announced a €186 million investment in four 17,000 dwt multipurpose vessels designed to operate using green methanol for fossil-free shipping.
“This extended cooperation with SSAB offers strong evidence that ESL Shipping strategy is productive. We have made major investment decisions during the past years, the latest in handysize vessels that can operate on hydrogen-based E-fuel and earlier in electric hybrid coaster sized vessels. I am glad to see that these investments are well received by our customers”, says Rolf Jansson, CEO of Aspo Plc and Chairman of the Board of ESL Shipping.
By focusing on market-leading energy efficiency, flexible cargo space design, and lower operating costs, ESL Shipping aims to lead the industry’s shift toward sustainable cargo transport. The partnership with SSAB aligns with both companies’ commitment to reducing emissions and delivering fossil-free products and services in the future.
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Source: ESL Shipping
