Bunker sales in the port of Rotterdam were about 25% lower in the first quarter of 2026 than in the same period last year, according to figures released by the port authority.

Total fossil and bio-blended marine fuel sales during the first three months of 2026 were 1.814 million tonnes compared with 2.426 million tonnes the previous year.

The sharpest decline was recorded in fossil fuel oil sales, particularly very-low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), which fell 44%. High-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) volumes were down 25%, while ultra-low-sulphur fuel oil (ULSFO) declined 13%.

Fossil distillates also recorded lower sales, with marine gas oil (MGO) down 7% and marine diesel oil (MDO) dropping 11%.

By contrast, alternative fuels posted modest growth. Sales of LNG and bio-LNG together with methanol and biomethanol rose 6.4%, while bio-blended fuels increased 2.7%, mainly due to higher demand for bio-blended distillates.

The port authority added that bio-blended LNG was supplied on a notable scale for the first time, reaching more than 15,000 cbm during the first quarter.

According to the port, part of the decline can be attributed to the implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III) in the Netherlands, which has led to higher prices than in neighbouring countries. It said operational changes in regulation and policy may also have influenced the figures.

The port authority also pointed to price volatility and uncertainty as factors that may have weakened bunker demand in Rotterdam.

It added that the impact of developments in the Strait of Hormuz is not yet visible in the first-quarter data and is expected to become more apparent in the second-quarter bunker statistics.

Rotterdam is the world's second-largest bunker port, achieving sales of 9.8 million tonnes in 2025.