Page 30: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (October 2025)

Port Fuels 2025

PROPANE

Propane’s Economic Edge for

Ports During Trade Uncertainty

Lower, more predictable costs help ports manage expenses amid economic stress

By Jim Bunsey, Propane Education & Research Council rade has been a rollercoaster recently. Between the unpre- dictability of tariffs and un-

T certain economic outlooks, ports have faced big swings in trade volume as well as pressure to do more with less. Operational efficiency and cost control are critical, which is why propane continues to emerge as a cost-effective, dependable energy solution that offers significant eco- nomic advantages for port terminal operators looking to stay ahead dur- ing uncertain times.

Lower and More Predictable

Fuel Costs

One of the largest variable costs in

Image courtesy PERC port operations is fuel. Diesel and gas- oline prices can be heavily impacted by the global oil market, which can price spikes that can quickly consume (WBCT) at the Port of Los Angeles has be affected by several factors like in- their annual fuel budget for the year. been running propane terminal tractors ternational con? icts, policy changes, Propane suppliers can also offer port for over 20 years, and after switching tariffs, and more. Propane, on the other operators mutually bene? cial long- from diesel to propane, the terminal hand, is predominantly produced do- term fuel contracts, improving budget went from $1,519.217 in annual diesel mestically here in the United States, predictability and planning. And on a costs to $1,150,922 in annual propane so it bene? ts from a more stable sup- per-gallon basis, propane usually beats costs. That’s around a 25 percent sav- ply chain and fewer price ? uctuations. the price of diesel, sometimes by as ings that the port could reinvest in its

Compared to diesel and gasoline, pro- much as 50 percent. operations.

pane helps protect ports from sharp West Basin Container Terminal The upfront investment cost in pro- 30 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • October 2025

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