Bunker volumes at the Port of Rotterdam fell 25.1% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year. The biggest decline came from fossil marine fuels, which dropped 28.3%. Sales of Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) fell 46%, while High Sulphur Fuel Oil (HSFO) declined 24% and Ultra Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (ULSFO) dropped 31%. At the same time, sales of alternative fuels increased 28%. The port said demand for bio-LNG grew strongly. It also completed its first bio-ethanol bunkering during the second quarter. The Port of Rotterdam said bunker volumes remained under pressure throughout the first half of the year. It attributed the decline to a combination of regulatory changes, higher fuel costs and shifting trade patterns. According to the port, the implementation of the EU RED III Directive in the Netherlands has increased sustainability requirements for fuel suppliers. This has raised the cost of conventional bunker fuels compared with competing ports. The port also said some bunker volumes have shifted to ports outside the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp-Bruges (ARA) region because of operational and regulatory changes. Market uncertainty, fluctuating bunker prices and changes in global trade routes also influenced where vessels chose to bunker. Despite the decline, Rotterdam remains one of the world’s largest bunker ports. The post Bunker volumes at Port of Rotterdam fall 25% in first half of 2026 appeared first on Container News .