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Rotterdam biofuel bunker sales fall in 3Q

  • Märkte: Oil products
  • 22.10.26

Biofuel bunker sales at Rotterdam fell sharply in the third quarter from both the previous quarter and a year earlier, while conventional marine fuel sales recovered on the quarter.

Biofuel sales dropped to 139,442t, down by 42pc from 239,875t a year earlier and by 30pc from the second quarter, Rotterdam port authority data show.

Market participants attributed the decline to greater flexibility in complying with European greenhouse gas emissions regulations and a sufficient compliance surplus having already been generated for this year.

Conventional marine fuel sales rose by 12pc from the second quarter to 1.7mn t, but fell by 20pc on the year.

The Netherlands' early implementation of the EU's revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) ahead of other European countries has shifted some spot bunker demand to competing ports, including Antwerp, market participants said.

Rotterdam very-low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) averaged $652.53/t in the third quarter, compared with $645.73/t in Antwerp, according to Argus assessments. Marine gasoil (MGO) averaged $1,238.15/t in Rotterdam and $1,234.73/t in Antwerp.

B100 biodiesel remains at a discount to MGO, with its competitiveness increasing further after accounting for savings under the EU emissions trading system and FuelEU Maritime.

Argus assessed Dutch B100 Advanced fatty acid methyl ester at $1,161/t delivered on board in the Netherlands on 22 October, compared with $1,421.50/t for MGO in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp hub. The net B100 price was $629.20/t after accounting for compliance savings.

LNG bunker sales fell by 35pc on the year and by 21pc from the previous quarter. Bio-LNG sales moved in the opposite direction, rising by 76pc on the year and by 46pc on the quarter.

LNG-fuelled ships make up the majority of the alternative-fuelled vessel orderbook. Some 200 LNG-capable ships have been ordered so far in 2026, accounting for 64pc of alternative-fuelled vessel orders.

Rotterdam bunker fuel salest
Fuel3Q 20263Q 2025y-o-y%2Q 2026q-o-q%
ULSFO165,318232,720-29.0123,19034.2
VLSFO427,347635,638-32.8354,44820.6
HSFO754,853872,077-13.4704,6377.1
MGO/MDO349,007387,173-9.9331,3475.3
Conventionals total: 1,696,5252,127,608-20.31,513,62212.1
Biofuel blends139,442198,515-29.8239,875-41.9
LNG (m³)215,420331,620-35.0273,021-21.1
Bio-LNG (m³)23,6139602,359.77,506214.6
Bio-methanol4,1662,37175.72,84546.4
Ethanol---1,025-100.0

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