Dutch maritime organisations have called on the government to ensure a level regulatory playing field for marine fuels, warning that the Netherlands risks losing bunker business to neighbouring countries if current policies remain unchanged. Rotterdam is Europe's largest port and ranks among the world's biggest bunkering hubs, making the competitive dynamics of its marine fuel market significant for both the Dutch maritime sector and broader European shipping supply chains.

In a position paper published last week, Dutch maritime stakeholders cautioned that differences in how European countries have implemented renewable fuel rules are encouraging ships to bunker outside the Netherlands. The paper was co-authored by Deltalinqs, the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners, VOTOB, and NOVE, the Dutch association of independent fuel suppliers.

The organisations argued that the country's implementation of the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) has driven up marine fuel costs by requiring bunker suppliers to blend renewable fuels or purchase emissions reduction units, while also limiting the use of used cooking oil as a feedstock. Bunkering decisions are highly price-sensitive, as vessels can typically choose where to refuel along their trading routes, meaning even modest cost differentials between ports can redirect volumes.

According to Ship & Bunker, Rotterdam's conventional and biofuel sales declined by 25.7% year-on-year to 1.75 million mt in Q2 2026.

The paper contrasts the Dutch approach with that of Belgium and Germany, arguing that the resulting price gap is shifting bunker demand to neighbouring ports. Belgium's Port of Antwerp-Bruges reported a 5.5% year-on-year increase in conventional marine fuel and biofuel sales in Q2 2026.

The organisations also warned that the trend risks carbon leakage, as ships opt to bunker conventional fuels elsewhere rather than lower-carbon fuels in Rotterdam. The concern arises alongside the EU's broader regulatory push on shipping emissions, which includes the phased inclusion of maritime in the EU Emissions Trading System and the FuelEU Maritime regulation that took effect in 2025, both intended to accelerate the sector's transition to cleaner fuels.

They called on the Dutch government to collaborate with neighbouring countries to establish a more level regulatory framework and introduce measures to prevent further erosion of bunker business while safeguarding investment in future marine fuel infrastructure.

Deltalinqs is the business association representing companies operating in the Port of Rotterdam.