Bunker fuel sales at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges rose 5.5% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, according to data published by the port authority and reported by Ship & Bunker. Around 2 million mt of conventional marine fuels and biofuels were sold during the quarter, though the figure was down 0.3% from the previous quarter.
HSFO and ULSFO Lead Growth
High sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) sales rose 11.6% year-on-year to 659,182 mt, according to Ship & Bunker, although volumes fell 8.2% compared to Q1 2026. HSFO now accounts for 33% of total sales at the port, up from 31% a year earlier.
Very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) volumes increased 12.8% year-on-year to 537,926 mt, edging 0.5% higher quarter-on-quarter, Ship & Bunker reports. Ultra low sulfur fuel oil (ULSFO) sales saw the sharpest growth, climbing 43.6% year-on-year to 164,987 mt, while remaining largely flat versus Q1.
Gasoil and Unspecified Fuel Oil Also Rise
According to the report, unspecified fuel oil sales reached 240,739 mt, up 3.6% year-on-year and 8.6% higher than in Q1. Gasoil sales increased for a third consecutive quarter to 366,329 mt, up 7.3% quarter-on-quarter, though still 15% below Q2 2025 levels.
Biofuel and LNG Sales Diverge
Marine biofuel sales totalled 26,833 mt, down 36% year-on-year but up 29% from Q1 2026, Ship & Bunker reports. LNG bunker sales, counted separately from conventional and biofuel volumes, fell 13.4% year-on-year and 15% quarter-on-quarter to 76,513 mt. No methanol sales have been recorded at the port since Q3 2024, according to the report.
Ship & Bunker notes that the rise in overall bunker volumes has coincided with the Netherlands’ implementation of the RED III regulation, though no further detail on the connection was provided in the source data.
Does This Matter to You?
For those monitoring bunker fuel availability and pricing trends in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) hub, these volume shifts offer insight into changing fuel demand patterns at one of Europe’s key bunkering ports. The notable rise in HSFO and ULSFO sales, alongside a decline in biofuel and LNG volumes, may be relevant for vessel operators and traders tracking fuel mix trends and compliance fuel options in the region. The reference to RED III regulation implementation in the Netherlands could also be of interest to those following regulatory developments affecting biofuel uptake in European bunkering markets, though the source material does not elaborate on the specific mechanisms behind this correlation.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
