News
23/04/26
Antwerp bunker sales overtake Rotterdam: Correction
Corrects city in table heading. Sao Paulo, 23 April (Argus) — Antwerp sold more
marine fuel than Rotterdam in the first quarter of 2026 for the first time since
the fourth quarter of 2023. Volumes traded in Antwerp were 52pc higher than in
the neighbouring Dutch port, reflecting the impact of the Netherlands'
implementation of the EU's revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III). Bunker
sales data for the first quarter at the port of Antwerp show that volumes of
conventional marine fuels sold rose by 37.5pc quarter-on-quarter and 14.8pc on
the year, to nearly 2.4mn t. Sales in Rotterdam fell by 27pc on the quarter and
28pc on the year, to 1.58mn t. The retroactive implementation of the RED III
marine mandates in the Netherlands since January has increased the cost of
conventional marine fuels in Dutch ports, extending renewable fuel blending and
compliance obligations to the maritime sector. From 2026, fuel suppliers in the
Netherlands must meet stricter greenhouse gas reduction targets, which can be
achieved by incorporating more expensive alternative fuels into their supply mix
or by purchasing tickets (ZREs) from other suppliers who have done so. These
additional costs are passed on to bunker fuel buyers. As a result, prices for
conventional marine fuels in the Netherlands have risen relative to ports where
RED III implementation has been delayed, such as Belgium. Between early February
and the end of March, MGO dob Rotterdam prices were on average $12.75/t higher
than equivalent Antwerp prices, while VLSFO dob Rotterdam held an average
premium of around $14.50/t over the same period. This price differential is
expected to persist at least until the end of the year, when RED III is due to
be implemented in Belgium. The increase in sales in Antwerp was capped in March
owing to supply constraints. The effective closure of the strait of Hormuz
following the start of the US–Iran war sharply reduced bunker availability in
Singapore, increasing competition for VLSFO and MGO cargoes that would otherwise
be exported to the ARA hub. This led to tighter availability of conventional
bunker fuels in March and lengthened bunkering lead times across the entire hub,
including Antwerp. By Gabriel Tassi Lara Antwerp bunker sales t Fuel 1Q 2026 4Q
2025 Q1 2025 q-o-q % y-o-y % ULSFO 164,114 124,634 118,447 31.5 38.5 VLSFO
955,032 521,017 708,410 83.3 34.8 HSFO 718,016 524,229 661,352 37.0 8.6 MGO/MDO
338,364 345,899 352,867 -2.0 -4.0 Conventional total 2,397,146 1,744,407
2,089,779 37.5 14.8 Biofuel blends 20,726 10,959 41,973 89.0 -50.5 LNG (m³)
90,038 48,634 28,670 85.0 214.0 Send comments and request more information at
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