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[Click for enlarged graph of Rotterdam H1 Marine Fuel and Lubricant Sales - 2010-2017]

First-half-of-the-year (H1) and second-quarter (Q2) sales of marine fuel and lubricants in Rotterdam fell to their lowest level so far this decade, according to data revealed by Port of Rotterdam Authority on Tuesday.

During Q2 2017, Europe's leading port sold 2.49 million cubic metres (cbm) of bunkers and lubes - a 2.1 percent year-on-year (YoY) decline compared to the 2.55 million cbm sold in Q2 2016, and the second Q2 decrease in a row. It is the lowest Q2 sales figure of the 2010s.

The volume of marine fuel and lubricants sold between January and June amounted to 4.97 million cbm, which was the lowest H1 result since the start of the current decade. It is also the first time in the 2010s that H1 sales have fallen below 5 million cbm.

Compared to last year's figure of 5.24 million cbm, the YoY drop in H1 was 273,992 cbm, or 5.2 percent. It was also the second successive H1 decrease.

The 4.97 million-cbm result in H1 2017 is only the second-lowest six-month figure since 2010, however, if we also include H2 sales. The lowest sales volume of 4.90 million cbm was recorded in H2 2016; therefore, six-month sales were actually slightly up (67,064 cbm, or 1.3 percent) sequentially in H1 2017.

Quarterly sales were also a tad (18,546 cbm, or 0.7 percent) higher, sequentially, compared to the 2.48 million cbm sold in Q1.

Image: Graph: Rotterdam H1 Marine Fuel and Lubricant Sales - 2010-2017.