Odfjell
Odfjell SE is a Norwegian-founded (1914) chemical tanker operator and tank terminal owner transporting bulk liquid chemicals, acids, and edible oils for approximately 600 global customers using one of the world's largest stainless steel tanker fleets.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1914
- HeadquartersBergen, Norway
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Odfjell does
Odfjell SE is a Norwegian public limited company founded in 1914 and headquartered in Bergen, Norway, operating one of the world's largest fleets of stainless steel chemical tankers alongside an integrated network of bulk-liquid storage terminals. The company transports bulk liquid chemicals, acids, edible oils, and other specialty liquids for a customer base of approximately 600 regular clients, which includes virtually all major global chemical producers. Its fleet of around 80 vessels and terminals sited at strategic hubs (Houston, Charleston, Rotterdam, Singapore, Shanghai, Ulsan, Tangier, Cape Town, Paranaguá, and Santos) provide both deep-sea transportation and dedicated storage services, generating revenue through time charter contracts, voyage charters, and terminal handling fees.
The company's core technology stack combines purpose-built stainless steel tanker vessels with operational optimization platforms, including the Syroco digital twin for voyage planning and LiDAR wind data capture on rotor sail-equipped ships, alongside HxGN EAM for fleet maintenance. Odfjell's Heavy Pump Propulsion (HPP) and rotor sail retrofit program delivers approximately 20% fuel savings on retrofitted tonnage, and the company was the first shipping firm to issue a sustainability-linked bond in 2021, with DNV-verified carbon reductions exceeding 50% on certain vessels. Recent strategic priorities include a Brazil-Europe Green Corridor (launched December 2025), a Petrobras B24 biofuel supply agreement (January 2026), participation in the AWESOME EU wind-propulsion consortium (June 2026), and delivery of 10 newbuild chemical tankers in 2026.
Odfjell monetizes its services through a mix of long-term contracts of affreightment (COAs) with major chemical producers, spot and contract voyage charters on the wider market, and terminal throughput fees for storage, blending, and handling. The combination of vessel operations and terminal infrastructure creates vertical integration benefits, allowing Odfjell to capture additional value from cargo handling and offer bundled shipping-plus-storage solutions to chemical and edible oil customers. Following its 2021 exit from gas carriers, the company has concentrated capital on its chemical tanker and terminals platform.
Odfjell firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Odfjell
- Legal name
- Odfjell SE
- Website
- https://odfjell.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1914
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Odfjell SE is a Norwegian-founded (1914) chemical tanker operator and tank terminal owner transporting bulk liquid chemicals, acids, and edible oils for approximately 600 global customers using one of the world's largest stainless steel tanker fleets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Odfjell industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Chemical Tanker Shipping and Terminal Storage
- NAICS
- Deep Sea Freight Transportation (483111), Marine Cargo Handling (488320), Marine Cargo Handling (48832), Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals (424710)
- SIC
- Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412), Water Transportation (4400), Wholesale-Petroleum Bulk Stations & Terminals (5171)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Chemical & Petrochemical Tanker Transport (TLADALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Liquid Bulk Petroleum Terminals (Crude, Refined Products) (TLAHABAH), Marine/Port-Connected Pipeline Terminals (Dock/Jetty Tank Farms) (TLAGAKAL), Crude Oil & Petroleum Products Tanker Transport (TLADALAA)
Keywords
Where Odfjell is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bergen
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
Odfjell business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Time Charter Earnings: Primary revenue stream from time charter of chemical tankers. Q1 2026 time charter earnings of $167 million. Daily time charter earnings averaging $27,232.
- Tank Terminal Storage Services: Storage services for liquids, chemicals and oil products at strategic international shipping hubs. Total storage capacity of 1.3 million cbm across 4 operational terminals.
- Ship Management Services: Fully integrated fleet management, crewing, QHSSE management, technology support, newbuilding coordination, digital innovation and energy efficiency solutions for owned and managed vessels.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Time charter rates for chemical tanker vessels |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Odfjell product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Odfjell operates a global fleet of approximately 80 chemical tankers transporting bulk liquid chemicals, acids, vegetable oils, and specialty hazardous liquids for major chemical producers worldwide, 24/7 across all major shipping hubs. The company also operates 4 part-owned tank terminals with 1.3 million CBM of storage capacity at strategic hubs in the US, Belgium, and Korea, and provides fully integrated ship management services covering crewing, QHSSE, technology, and energy efficiency. Its services span complete chartering, operations, marine services, and fleet management for both owned and third-party vessels.
Product overview
Odfjell is a Norwegian shipping company operating approximately 80 chemical tankers for worldwide transportation of hazardous liquids and specialty bulk chemicals, complemented by 4 part-owned tank terminals (Houston, Charleston, Antwerp, Ulsan) with 1.3 million cbm storage capacity. The core product offering includes Odfjell Tankers (complete chartering, operations and marine services), Odfjell Ship Management (fleet management, crewing, QHSSE, technology support), and Odfjell Terminals (storage and distribution at strategic hubs). Technology platforms include HxGN EAM for fleet management, Syroco's digital twin and weather routing platform, and bound4blue eSAIL suction sails for wind-assisted propulsion. The company operates a Brazil-Europe green corridor using sustainable biofuels, and is part of the EU-funded AWESOME wind propulsion project. Services span from chartering to ship management, with a customer portal for logistics access.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Odfjell Tankers (Chemical Tanker Transportation) Complete chartering, operations and marine services organization providing global chemical tanker transportation of bulk liquid chemicals, acids, vegetable oils, and specialty hazardous liquids. Operates a fleet of approximately 80 chemical tankers serving 600+ regular customers including all major chemical producers, 24/7 across all major shipping hubs.
- Odfjell Ship Management Fully integrated service offering fleet management, crewing, QHSSE management, technology support, newbuilding coordination, digital innovation, and energy efficiency solutions for chemical tankers (both owned and third-party managed vessels).
- Odfjell Terminals (Tank Storage Services) Global tank storage service provider for liquids, chemicals and oil products at strategic international shipping hubs. Operates 4 part-owned terminals in Houston, Charleston, Noord Natie (Antwerp), and Ulsan, with total storage capacity of 1.3 million cbm across 476 storage tanks, plus a network of associated terminals in South America.
- Decarbonization and Green Shipping Corridor Services Decarbonization-focused shipping services based on a three-pillar strategy: operational efficiency, technical improvements, and alternative fuel development. Includes the first operational green shipping corridor between Brazil and Europe, supporting customers' Scope 3 emission reduction goals.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50%+ carbon intensity reduction vs 2008 baseline achieved March 2023
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Odfjell
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Odfjell technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability1 record
Feature5 records
Odfjell partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- bound4bluecoreSpanish suction sail developer whose eSAIL system is installed on Odfjell vessels, achieving approximately 20% fuel savings. The Odfjell family office participated in bound4blue's $44M funding round. Odfjell vessels equipped with bound4blue technology participate in AWESOME project.
- Kongsberg MaritimecoreLeading the AWESOME (Advanced Wind Energy System Optimization & Monitoring for Efficiency) EU Horizon Europe project. Odfjell provides one of its chemical tankers as a full-scale demonstrator for wind-assisted propulsion technology. The project brings together 15 European partners to validate tools, methodologies, and real-world performance data for WAPS.
- PetrobrascoreHistoric marine biofuel supply deal for up to 12,000 metric tons of B24 marine biofuel through 2026. Bunkering operations at Petrobras' Rio Grande terminal in Brazil. Builds on Brazil-Norway green shipping corridor agreement signed February 2025.
- Fukuoka Shipyardcore25-year partnership with Japanese shipyard spanning 18 vessels. Built Bow Fortitude and Bow Fraternity, latest in 25,000 dwt stainless steel chemical tanker series. Partnership emphasizes quality construction and on-time delivery.
- SyrococoreOdfjell deployed Syroco's digital twin and weather routing platform on chemical tankers Bow Olympus and Bow Optima to optimize voyage performance. The platform calculates optimal routes considering wind-assisted sails and vessel characteristics, integrated with bound4blue eSAIL system.
- SINTEF OceancoreEuropean research institute leading the reSail project to improve Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems using LiDAR technology. Equipped Odfjell's Bow Olympus with LiDAR to capture accurate wind data for sail optimization. Partnership continues in AWESOME project.
- DNVcoreIndependent verification partner for carbon intensity reduction targets. DNV verified Odfjell's 50%+ carbon intensity reduction in March 2023 and issued certificate at Nor-Shipping 2023. Also provides Type Approval for HxGN EAM platform.
- FUTURE-PROOF InitiativeminorHuman rights collaboration platform created by Bergen Chamber of Commerce and Rafto Foundation. Odfjell signed as part of Transparency Act compliance, committing to human rights due diligence and SDG alignment.
- HexagoncoreOdfjell implemented HxGN EAM multi-tenant cloud platform for fleet management across 45 vessels. Platform covers maintenance, safety inspections, procurement, dry docking, and inventory. Type Approved by DNV. Replaced 20-year-old legacy distributed systems architecture.
- Getting to Zero CoalitioncoreGlobal alliance working to operate zero-emission vessels on deep-sea trades by 2030. Led by Global Maritime Forum, Friends of Ocean Action, and World Economic Forum. Odfjell joined as one of 80+ founding companies.
- MAN Diesel & Turbo, Grenaa Motorfabrik, Marintek, ABB AS TurbochargingcoreIn-house developed retrofit program for propulsion upgrades including propeller blades, rudder-bulb, main engine, turbochargers, and hull coating. Achieved 20%+ fuel consumption reduction across 19 retrofitted vessels.
- Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN)coreGlobal business network working towards corruption-free maritime industry. Odfjell has been member since 2013, implementing Say No anti-corruption campaign on all vessels globally.
- UN Global CompactcoreOdfjell is a signatory since 2011, committed to ten principles in human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption. Framework guides sustainability strategy and Communication on Progress reporting.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves13 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Odfjell competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stolt-Nielsen Limited: Stolt-Nielsen is the most direct comparable, operating the Stolt Tankers chemical parcel tanker fleet and Stolthaven tank terminals globally. It competes head-to-head with Odfjell in deep-sea chemical transportation and bulk-liquid storage, serving the same major chemical-producer customer base with similar stainless-steel tonnage and time-charter contracts.
- Royal Vopak: Vopak is the world's largest independent tank terminal operator, directly overlapping with Odfjell Terminals' 1.3M cbm of bulk-liquid storage across Houston, Antwerp, and Asia. It serves the same downstream chemical and oil-product customers and competes for storage contracts at the same strategic ports.
- Hafnia: Hafnia operates a large fleet of product and chemical tankers (~200 vessels) in the same time-charter and pool arrangements as Odfjell. While skewed to refined products, it competes with Odfjell for the same chemical-producer customers and pool partners (e.g., Chempool arrangements).
- Scorpio Tankers: Scorpio Tankers operates one of the largest publicly listed product tanker fleets, competing with Odfjell for chemical and refined-product voyage charters globally. Both operate modern, fuel-efficient tonnage in MR and LR segments and are subject to similar IMO and FuelEU Maritime compliance dynamics.
- TORM plc: TORM operates a fleet of product and chemical tankers serving global trading houses and chemical producers, directly competing with Odfjell Tankers' time-charter and spot business. Both companies are focused on clean petroleum products and chemicals with similar LR2/MR vessel profiles.
- Team Tankers / Stolt Bitumen & Specialities: Team Tankers operates deep-sea chemical tankers and was a major Stolt-Nielsen competitor; it now functions within the broader Stolt group. It remains directly comparable to Odfjell's stainless-steel chemical fleet in vessel size, customer base, and trade-lane coverage.
Broad incumbents
- Frontline plc: Frontline is one of the world's largest publicly listed crude and product tanker owners, operating a broad VLCC/Suezmax/LR2 fleet. While primarily crude-focused, Frontline competes with Odfjell for product-tonnage business and overlaps in global shipping hubs where Odfjell Terminals operates.
- International Seaways: International Seaways owns and operates a diversified fleet of crude, product, and chemical tankers via its VLCC, Suezmax, Aframax, MR, and chemical segments. Its chemical tanker operations directly overlap with Odfjell, while its crude segments provide a broader incumbent comparison point for the same shipping cyclicality.
Emerging players
- Ardmore Shipping: Ardmore Shipping operates MR and chemical parcel tankers serving the same refined-products and chemical customer base. It is smaller and product-tanker-focused but increasingly competes with Odfjell for chemical parcel business, particularly on Atlantic basin routes served by Brazil-Europe and US Gulf corridors.
Others
- Wärtsilä Cargo Handling: Wärtsilä is a broader marine-technology and services group whose cargo-handling division supplies equipment and digital solutions for chemical tankers and terminals. While not a direct shipping competitor, its technology and lifecycle services overlap with Odfjell's Hexagon HxGN EAM and Syroco digital-twin stack and compete for similar fleet-modernization budgets.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Odfjell social profiles
Digital presenceOdfjell compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance11 records
Odfjell financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Odfjell leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Odfjell subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
Odfjell funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Odfjell M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Odfjell
What does Odfjell do?
Odfjell operates a global fleet of approximately 80 chemical tankers transporting bulk liquid chemicals, acids, vegetable oils, and specialty hazardous liquids for major chemical producers worldwide, 24/7 across all major shipping hubs. The company also operates 4 part-owned tank terminals with 1.3 million CBM of storage capacity at strategic hubs in the US, Belgium, and Korea, and provides fully integrated ship management services covering crewing, QHSSE, technology, and energy efficiency. Its services span complete chartering, operations, marine services, and fleet management for both owned and third-party vessels.
Is Odfjell a public or private company?
Odfjell is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Odfjell founded?
Odfjell was founded in 1914. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Odfjell based?
Odfjell is headquartered in Bergen, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does Odfjell make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Time Charter Earnings are the primary driver. The others are tank Terminal Storage Services and ship Management Services.
Who are Odfjell's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stolt-Nielsen Limited, Royal Vopak, Hafnia, Scorpio Tankers, TORM plc and Team Tankers / Stolt Bitumen & Specialities. Broad incumbents are Frontline plc and International Seaways. Ardmore Shipping is listed as an emerging player. Wärtsilä Cargo Handling is listed as an others.
Does Odfjell have an API?
No public API is recorded for Odfjell.
What industry is Odfjell in?
Odfjell's product category is Chemical Tanker Shipping and Terminal Storage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLADALAB, Chemical & Petrochemical Tanker Transport, with a secondary code of TLAHABAH, Liquid Bulk Petroleum Terminals (Crude, Refined Products). Its NAICS code is 483111 and its SIC code is 4412.