Sales of marine biodiesel blends in Rotterdam rose by 59pc in April–June from the previous quarter, and bio-LNG sales hit a record quarterly high, driven primarily by demand linked to the EU's FuelEU Maritime regulation.
But marine biodiesel sales were still 29pc lower than in the same quarter last year, reflecting weaker voluntary demand and a shift in container-liner volumes to east of Suez, where prices have been more competitive.
Spot demand for marine biodiesel was mixed during the quarter. Most activity in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) hub was linked to the start of FuelEU Maritime rules, which require ships entering, leaving or operating within EU waters to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Under the regulation, biofuels bunkered in Singapore can be mass balanced and counted towards compliance if consumed on voyages starting or ending at an EU port.
Market participants also reported stronger demand for marine gasoil (MGO)-based blends, with sales doubling to 31,663t from 15,640t in the first quarter of the year. This was partly due to the launch of a new emission control area (ECA) in the Mediterranean Sea on 1 May, which limits sulphur content in marine fuels to 0.1pc. The expansion of ECAs to cover most EU waters could also support demand for MGO and ultra-low sulphur fuel oil (ULSFO) in ARA. ULSFO–biodiesel blend sales nearly tripled to 24,573t in the second quarter from 8,490t in the first.
Bio-LNG volumes hit a quarterly record but remained well below conventional LNG. FuelEU Maritime's 2025 GHG reduction target of 2pc can still be met using fossil LNG, which may limit immediate bio-LNG uptake. But bio-LNG's lower carbon intensity could support overcompliance, which can be traded under the FuelEU pooling mechanism.
Sales of conventional bunker fuels in Rotterdam also rose on the quarter and were up 5.5pc on the year. ULSFO sales increased by 33pc on the year and nearly 21pc on the quarter, reaching the highest since the second quarter of 2021. High-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) sales hit the highest on records going back to October-December 2019, rising by more than 10pc on the year and the month. Combined MGO and marine diesel oil (MDO) sales rose by 11pc on the year and by 3.8pc on the quarter, with MGO also at the highest since the second quarter of 2020.
In contrast, very-low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) sales fell by 9pc on the year and 14pc from the previous quarter, the lowest level on record.
The divergence in fuel demand is likely linked to the expansion of the Mediterranean Sea emission control area, which came into effect on 1 May and limits sulphur content in marine fuels to 0.1pc.
MGO availability in Rotterdam was tighter in the second quarter, as some supply previously destined for the northwest European hub was redirected to the Mediterranean following the region's ECA designation. A similar trend was seen for ULSFO, with some Mediterranean suppliers importing the grade from ARA.
LNG bunker sales fell by 24pc from the first quarter and by 17pc on the year. Market participants said the decline may reflect cheaper LNG bunker supply in Asia, where LNG is typically priced using a blend of oil-linked and spot contracts. The Singapore LNG dob price has consistently traded at a discount to northwest European levels in recent months.
| Rotterdam bunker sales | t | ||||
| Fuel | 2Q25 | 1Q25 | 2Q24 | q-o-q % | y-o-y % |
| ULSFO | 225,992 | 187,031 | 169,953 | 20.8 | 33 |
| VLSFO | 679,442 | 789,218 | 747,300 | -13.9 | -9.1 |
| HSFO | 914,672 | 829,197 | 825,125 | 10.3 | 10.9 |
| MGO/MDO | 407,877 | 393,071 | 369,267 | 3.8 | 10.5 |
| Conventional total | 2,227,983 | 2,198,517 | 2,111,645 | 1.3 | 5.5 |
| Biofuel blends | 165,220 | 104,037 | 234,093 | 58.8 | -29.4 |
| LNG (m³) | 200,662 | 265,043 | 242,931 | -24.3 | -17.4 |
| bio-LNG (m³) | 4,752 | 0 | 2,200 | na | 116 |
| biomethanol | 3,958 | 5,490 | 950 | -27.9 | 316.6 |
| Port of Rotterdam | |||||
