The Port of Helsingborg will charge a variable “emergency energy surcharge” on vessels calling at the Swedish port after a sharp increase in the price of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) used in its operations.

HVO accounts for most of the energy used in the port’s operations, with part of the machine fleet running on electricity, the port authority said.

Prima-assessed ARA HVO (UCO) barge price has surged by around $250/mt since before the conflict broke out in the Middle East.

Vessel calling at the Port of Helsingborg in Sweden. Helsingborg Port Authority

The charge will apply from 1 April 2026 to all units handled over quay, whether loaded onto or discharged from a vessel.

The surcharge will remain in place until energy costs stay high and will be adjusted monthly based on the price of the specific “Neste MY Renewable Diesel” HVO product used by the port.

The surcharge mechanism is based on the 2024 average operational energy consumption per unit handled over quay, which comes to 5.31 litres of HVO, the port authority said.
Source: ENGINE, https://www.engine.online/news