Scrubber uptake in container shipping has slowed, as the proportion of the fleet fitted with exhaust gas cleaning systems reached 42% in January 2026, but growth decelerated sharply compared with earlier years.
The proportion of the total cellular container fleet fitted with scrubbers reached 42% in January 2026, its highest ever level, but a significant slowdown in growth compared to earlier years.
As of 20 January, Alphaliner counted 1,543 ships of 13.9 Mteu with the exhaust cleaning equipment. The advent of alternative fuel newbuildings, stricter environmental regulations, and a fresh drop in the fuel price delta which again favours low sulphur fuels, has significantly reduced the uptake of the technology.
It had previously taken just four years for scrubber adoption to rise from 20% to 40% of the total fleet (mid 2020-mid 2024).
In 2025, the ‘spread’ between heavy fuel oil and low sulphur fuel prices declined for the third consecutive year, reducing savings for scrubber users.
The average delta in 2025 in Rotterdam languished at $56/mt, versus $79/mt in 2024 and $100/mt in 2023. This was the lowest yearly average since the IMO introduced sulphur limits in January 2020.
Initiatives such as the European Union’s FuelEU Maritime and Fit for 55 package will also penalize scrubber-fitted ships as the system’s energy consumption increases ships’ overall emissions.
Source: Alphaliner
