Port of Rotterdam Bunker Volumes Fall 25.1% in First Half of 2026 Amid Regulatory Shift
Key Takeaways
- •Rotterdam's total bunker sales declined 25.1% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, with conventional fossil fuel oil volumes dropping 28.3%.
- •Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil posted the steepest decline among conventional fuels at -46%, while alternative fuel sales grew by 28%.
- •The Netherlands' implementation of the EU RED III Directive has increased the cost of conventional bunker fuels relative to competing non-EU ports.
- •The EU Emissions Trading System and FuelEU Maritime regulation have further raised the regulatory cost burden for vessels bunkering at EU ports.
- •Rotterdam carried out its first bio-ethanol bunkering in the second quarter of 2026, highlighting the expanding role of alternative marine fuels.
Bunker sales at the Port of Rotterdam declined by 25.1% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, according to data from the Port of Rotterdam. Rotterdam is Europe's largest port by cargo throughput and has historically ranked among the world's top bunker supply hubs, making the scale of the decline notable for the global marine fuels market.
The drop was most pronounced in conventional fossil fuel oil, which fell 28.3% year-on-year. Within that category, Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) posted the steepest decline at -46%, followed by Ultra Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (ULSFO) at -31% and High Sulphur Fuel Oil (HSFO) at -24%.
By contrast, sales of alternative fuels rose by 28%. Demand for bio-LNG grew particularly strongly. In the second quarter of 2026, the first bunkering of bio-ethanol was carried out at the port, a step that underscores the potential of alternative fuels to contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions in the shipping sector.
Bunker Volume Shift to Competing Ports
Although Rotterdam remains one of the world's most significant bunker ports, recent months have seen a visible migration of bunker volumes to other locations. Bunkered volumes in both the first and second quarters of 2026 were significantly lower than in the corresponding periods of 2025.
A primary driver cited is the implementation of the European Union's RED III Directive in the Netherlands. The Renewable Energy Directive III is part of the EU's broader climate legislative package aimed at increasing the share of renewables across sectors, including transport. Under the directive, fuel suppliers face additional sustainability obligations, which has pushed up the cost of conventional bunker fuels relative to competing ports in the region.
This cost differential adds to pressure already felt from other EU maritime regulations. The inclusion of shipping in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), which began phasing in from 2024, and the FuelEU Maritime regulation, effective from 2025, have together increased the regulatory cost burden of conventional fossil bunkers for vessels calling at EU ports. Neighbouring non-EU bunker hubs are not subject to the same obligations, widening the price gap.
Bunker volumes have also shifted to ports outside the ARA region (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp-Bruges) as a result of operational and regulatory changes. Fluctuations in bunker prices, broader uncertainty in the energy market, and evolving global trade route dynamics have further influenced the selection of bunker locations and purchasing volumes.
Source: Port of Rotterdam