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Stolt-Nielsen, NYK confirm deal for 50% stake in Avenir LNG
Small-scale LNG bunkering outfit Avenir LNG has become the subject of an equity shift for Stolt-Nielsen’s chemical and product tanker-dominant business
Norwegian shipping and logistics group Stolt-Nielsen and Japanese shipping major Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Group) have formed a new joint venture to supply LNG.
NYK has taken a 50% stake in Stolt-Nielsen’s Avenir LNG, both companies confirmed.
Stolt-Nielsen trailed the sell-off of half of its stake in Avenir LNG in January, as Riviera reported (below).
"Through Stolt-Nielsen’s subsidiary Stolt-Nielsen Gas Ltd, Stolt-Nielsen has entered into a share purchase agreement to sell 50% of Avenir LNG to NYK Line. Avenir LNG was founded in 2017 and has grown into a leading player in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering sector," the companies said in a joint statement.
“By entering into this joint venture, we are developing our long-standing partnership with NYK Line and supporting Avenir LNG’s position in small-scale LNG supply and bunkering. NYK’s experience in shipping and logistics, together with potential market opportunities arising from the continued expansion of LNG-fuelled vessels, is expected to add value to Avenir LNG, its customers, and our shareholders," Stolt-Nielsen chief executive Udo Lange said.
27 January 2026
Avenir LNG’s parent company Stolt Nielsen is eyeing a sale of half of its ownership in the LNG bunker vessel specialists.
Stolt-Nielsen Ltd, through its subsidiary Stolt-Nielsen Gas Ltd, said on 26 January 2026 that it “confirms it is in discussions with a strategic buyer, regarding the potential sale of up to 50% of its interest in Avenir LNG Ltd”.
With Avenir LNG positioned, alongside Golar LNG, under Stolt-Nielsen’s ’diverse investments’ holdings, Stolt-Nielsen described its seven-vessel Avenir LNG fleet as “focused on supporting the marine energy transition,” confirming the company owns and operates “a fleet of five modern small-scale LNG bunkering vessels, with two newbuildings under construction.”
By comparison, Stolt-Nielsen’s Stolt Tankers, which forms a large part of the group’s holdings, is a significant player in the chemical tankers segment. With a fleet of 162 vessels, Stolt Tankers describes itself as a "leading operator of deepsea and regional chemical tankers".
Stolt-Nielsen said it expects the "final documentation and customary approvals" to be completed in the first quarter of 2026 for the potential sale agreement of half its holdings in Avenir LNG.
It added, “Should a formal agreement be reached, Stolt-Nielsen intends to jointly own and operate Avenir LNG as a joint venture.”
Stolt-Nielsen subsidiary Avenir LNG has not commented on the transaction discussions, with its last statements focused on the company’s completion of US$128M pre- and post-delivery financing for two LNG bunkering newbuildings, and a charter on the second vessel with an ExxonMobil subsidiary.
Avenir LNG has two 20,000-m³ LNG bunker and supply ships on order at CIMC SOE in China, scheduled for delivery in Q4 2026 and Q1 2027, respectively.
Small-scale LNG is set to enter a capacity-led growth phase from 2026, with a cluster of new bunker vessels to be delivered, bioLNG plants moving towards start-up and new downstream projects displacing diesel in power generation.
Riviera’s LNG Shipping & Terminals Conference will be held on 10-11 November 2026. Use this link for more information and to register for the event.
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