The entry into the final phase of the first compliance cycle of FuelEU Maritime is marking a turning point in the strategies of the maritime sector, with significant changes in price dynamics and in the mechanisms used by shipping companies to adapt to European regulations.
This regulation, in force since 2025, aims to reduce emissions from maritime transport by limiting the carbon intensity of the energy used by ships operating in the waters of the European Union. Among its flexibility tools, the so-called pooling has consolidated as one of the most used options for managing compliance costs.
This system allows ships that exceed emissions targets to generate surpluses that can be transferred to other vessels within the same group, creating an internal market that optimizes regulatory compliance.
According to market data, the use of pooling has grown significantly in recent months, accompanied by a sharp drop in prices. As Pietro Valaguzza, CEO of KICKSTER GROUP, points out, the cost has fallen from over 400 euros per ton at the beginning of 2025 to about 170 euros today. This evolution reflects a greater maturity of the market, driven by the availability of verified data through the THETIS-MRV system and by the rise of platforms like the FuelEU marketplace launched by the company in March 2026.
The price reduction is facilitating the entry of new players and allowing shipping companies to optimize their costs, while the increase in transparency is helping to reduce the complexity and risk associated with this type of operation.
At the same time, the sector continues to evaluate alternatives such as the use of biofuels, although uncertainty persists about which solutions will be predominant in the long term. Currently, fuels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), methane, or ammonia are emerging as viable large-scale options, while hydrogen and nuclear energy are still considered more limited solutions.
In this scenario, KICKSTER points out that shipowners are adopting an increasingly strategic view of FuelEU Maritime compliance, betting on tools such as standardized contracts, compensation mechanisms, and safer transaction systems.