A new study by European Shipowners (ECSA) quantifies for the first time how much revenues shipping contributes to the national budget of EU member states.
ECSA is campaigning for a requirement to reinvest these revenues in clean fuel availability and clean tech projects for the energy transition of shipping. The study reveals a breakdown of the shipping’s contribution to the national budget of each member state. Shipping is estimated to contribute around €9bn a year to EU and member states’ revenues under a scenario with the carbon price at €100/t CO2e. Even in a lower price scenario of €85, the sector brings in a significantly high €7.65bn annually.
In total, shipping brings in national revenues of €7.7bn under the €100 scenario and €6.6bn under the €85 scenario – without counting the EU revenues. Yet, these revenues are not reinvested in the sector’s energy transition – with few exceptions. According to the Commission’s 2025 Carbon Market Report, member states spent around 5% of their total ETS revenues on the energy transition of the economy.
Sustainable fuels for shipping remain on average four times more expensive than fuels currently used. Investment needs for the energy transition of shipping in Europe alone are estimated at around €40bn annually. Against this backdrop, only a few EU member states have so far earmarked a dedicated share of their EU ETS revenue for shipping to support the uptake of clean tech and sustainable fuels.
European shipowners already represent 44% of the global orderbook for sustainable fuel-powered ships. But Europe produces only 10% of sustainable fuels globally, with less than 5% intended for maritime use, while Asia accounts for 74% of fuel production projects. Without support to bridge this gap, fuel availability will not keep pace with fleet investment.
ECSA says the industry needs to see these revenues invested in the energy transition of the sector. The upcoming revision of the EU ETS provides an opportunity to require member states to use this money at national level to bridge the price gap and support sustainable fuel availability and clean tech projects.
The full study is available here.
