Total bunker fuel sales at the Port of Rotterdam fell sharply in the second quarter of 2026, even as biofuel blend volumes climbed to their highest level in over two years, according to data released by the Port of Rotterdam and reported by Ship & Bunker.
Combined conventional and biofuel bunker sales at the port reached 1.75 million mt in Q2 2026, down 26.7% from the same period last year, though up 4% from the first quarter, Ship & Bunker reports. For comparison, the report notes that the Port of Antwerp-Bruges sold roughly 2 million mt of conventional and biofuel marine fuels in the same quarter, an increase of 5.5% year on year.
Conventional Fuels Continue Downward Trend
According to Ship & Bunker, VLSFO sales at Rotterdam dropped 47.8% year on year and 19.4% quarter on quarter to 354,448 mt, marking a seventh consecutive quarterly decline dating back to Q3 2024. HSFO sales fell 23% annually to 704,637 mt, although they rose 13.8% from the previous quarter.
Other conventional grades showed mixed results. ULSFO sales rose 45.5% year on year to 123,190 mt, while MGO sales dropped 13.5% to 266,570 mt and MDO sales fell 35% to 64,777 mt, Ship & Bunker reports.
Biofuel and Alternative Fuel Sales Rise
Biofuel blend sales more than doubled quarter on quarter and rose 45.2% year on year to 239,875 mt, the highest quarterly figure since Q1 2024, according to the report. Ship & Bunker links the increase to the Netherlands’ implementation of RED III regulations in January, which require fuel suppliers to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of their fuel pool through blending eligible renewable fuels, including marine biodiesel made from Annex IX-A feedstocks.
LNG bunker sales, tracked separately from conventional and biofuel volumes, increased 31.5% year on year to 273,021 m3, up 2.1% from Q1. However, bio-LNG sales fell to 7,506 m3 from 15,260 m3 in the previous quarter, Ship & Bunker reports.
Bio-methanol sales nearly tripled from the prior quarter, reaching 2,845 mt, while Rotterdam recorded its first-ever bio-ethanol bunker sales at 1,025 mt, according to the report. Ship & Bunker also notes that Maersk’s dual-fuel feeder vessel Laura Maersk bunkered pure ethanol in Rotterdam in May, alongside an X-Press Feeders vessel that took on an ethanol-methanol blend the same month.
Prices Rise Alongside Falling Volumes
Rotterdam’s average VLSFO price climbed to $704.5/mt in Q2 2026, up from $541/mt in Q1 and $473/mt in the same period last year, according to Ship & Bunker price data. The publication’s G20-VLSFO Index, which tracks average prices across 20 major bunkering ports, rose to $856.5/mt from $639/mt in the previous quarter and $538/mt a year earlier.
Does This Matter to You?
The shift in Rotterdam’s bunker sales mix carries practical significance for parties involved in fuel procurement and compliance planning at one of Europe’s largest bunkering hubs. The continued decline in conventional fuel volumes, paired with rising biofuel uptake, reflects the impact of RED III compliance requirements on fuel availability and blending practices in the region.
Rising average fuel prices alongside falling sales volumes may also affect cost planning for vessels calling at Rotterdam. The introduction of bio-ethanol and growing bio-methanol volumes point to a broadening range of alternative fuel options becoming commercially available at the port, which may be relevant for vessel operators tracking fuel diversification trends.
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 (data via Port of Rotterdam)
