A vessel carrying bio-based chemical products departs from the Zhenhai petrochemical terminal at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. [Photo/Yongpai app]

A ship carrying 2,850 metric tons of bio-based chemical products has left Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, marking China's first export of green chemicals made from waste-cooking-oil-derived feedstocks.

The South Korean-flagged vessel departed from the Zhenhai petrochemical terminal on May 18, loaded with bio-based naphtha-based chemical products produced in Ningbo. The shipment represents a milestone for the local industry, as it completes a full production-storage-transport supply chain for bio-based chemical exports.

The products are derived from used cooking oil and processed into renewable chemical feedstocks for use in agriculture, packaging, construction materials, textiles, and automotive manufacturing. According to industry sources, these materials can reduce carbon emissions by at least 70 percent compared with conventional fossil-based chemicals, offering significant decarbonization potential at the source.

Officials said the export highlights the growing international competitiveness of China's green chemical industry, as companies such as Sinopec Zhenhai Refining and Chemical continue to scale up production of non-petroleum-based products.

However, shipping these new chemical products by sea requires strict safety and classification assessments, which had previously created logistical bottlenecks for exporters. To address this, maritime authorities in Ningbo introduced a detailed regulatory guidance framework for marine transport evaluation of new petrochemical products and provided end-to-end support for compliance procedures. Border inspection authorities also established fast-track clearance channels to ensure efficient vessel turnaround.

Experts noted that the successful shipment could help establish more regular export channels and further integrate China's emerging green chemical sector into global markets.