Burando Energies Reports 30% Share of Rotterdam's First-Half Bio-Blended Bunker Sales
Key Takeaways
- •Burando Energies supplied roughly 30% of the approximately 345,000 metric tonnes of bio-blended bunker fuel delivered at Rotterdam in the first half of 2026.
- •The 30% share includes B100 pure biofuel volumes but excludes liquefied biomethane, methanol, and ethanol sales.
- •The Netherlands' January 2026 implementation of RED III allows Dutch port suppliers to earn tradable ZRE (A) compliance credits for distributing advanced biofuels, bolstering Rotterdam's price competitiveness.
- •Burando anticipates sustained growth in biofuel demand as FuelEU Maritime mandates and EU ETS carbon costs push shipowners toward lower-carbon alternatives.
- •Burando operates a dedicated biofuel blending terminal at AFT Amsterdam alongside a wholly owned fleet of bunker barges.
Burando Energies Reports 30% Share of Rotterdam's First-Half Bio-Blended Bunker Sales
Published: 4 August 2026 — Port News
Bunker supplier Burando Energies estimates that it accounted for approximately 30% of all bio-blended bunker fuel volumes sold in the Port of Rotterdam during the first half of 2026. Rotterdam is Europe's largest port by cargo throughput and one of the world's foremost bunkering hubs, making its biofuel uptake a bellwether for the maritime energy transition.
According to the company, the figure includes B100 (pure biofuel) volumes but excludes liquefied biomethane (LBM), methanol, and ethanol sales.
Port authority data indicates that suppliers collectively delivered approximately 345,000 metric tonnes of bio-blended bunker fuel in Rotterdam during the same period. The port authority does not publish separate figures for B100 sales. Biofuel blends — combinations of conventional marine fuel with bio-components such as FAME or HVO — can largely be used in existing ship engines and fuel systems, making them a near-term decarbonization option that does not require the vessel modifications or newbuild investment associated with alternative-fuel propulsion such as methanol or ammonia.
Rotterdam's Competitive Position
Burando stated that Rotterdam remains one of the most cost-competitive bunkering locations in Europe for biofuels, attributing this in part to the Netherlands' incentive mechanisms tied to the EU's revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III).
The Netherlands implemented RED III in January 2026. Under the framework, suppliers operating at Dutch ports can generate compliance credits known as ZRE (A) tickets by supplying advanced biofuels such as POMEME (Pure Oil of Mono-Esters of Mixed Esters). These credits can subsequently be sold to suppliers of conventional marine fuels, creating a financial incentive for biofuel distribution.
Regulatory Drivers Support Demand Outlook
The supplier expects biofuel demand at Rotterdam to continue its upward trajectory as two key regulatory mechanisms converge: the tightening of FuelEU Maritime requirements, which mandate gradual reductions in the greenhouse gas intensity of energy used on board ships, and the increasing cost of burning conventional fossil fuels under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
Both regulations are central pillars of the EU's strategy to decarbonize maritime transport, pushing shipowners and operators toward lower-carbon fuel alternatives. These EU measures carry more immediate compliance timelines than the International Maritime Organization's global greenhouse gas reduction targets, which is a factor in why European ports are seeing earlier and faster adoption of alternative marine fuels.
Burando's Operations
Burando operates its own biofuel blending terminal at AFT Amsterdam and maintains a wholly owned fleet of bunker barges. The company supplies a range of marine fuel products, including:
- High Sulphur Fuel Oil (HSFO)
- Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO)
- Gasoil and diesel-based blends
- B100 FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters)
- B100 HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil)
- B100 FAME residue products
Source: ENGINE