You are using an outdated browser For a better experience using this site, please upgrade to a modern web browser. Subscribe Get Daily Email Subscribe --> Contact Us Sign in Home News & Features Compliance Costs Bunker Prices Bunker Intelligence EMEA News Latest Features World Americas EMEA Asia/Pacific Home News & Features EMEA Dutch Maritime Groups Urge Action to Protect Rotterdam Bunker Hub Dutch Maritime Groups Urge Action to Protect Rotterdam Bunker Hub by Ship & Bunker News Team Thursday July 30, 2026 Tweet Follow @shipandbunker Rotterdam is losing bunker market share to rival ports. Image Credit: Port of Rotterdam Dutch maritime organisations have called on the government to ensure a level regulatory playing field for marine fuels, warning that the Netherlands risks losing bunker business to neighbouring countries if current policies remain unchanged. In a position paper published last week, Dutch maritime stakeholders warned that differences in how European countries have implemented renewable fuel rules are encouraging ships to bunker outside the Netherlands. The paper was co-authored by Deltalinqs , the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners , VOTOB, Dutch association of independent fuel suppliers  NOVE . They said the country's implementation of the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) has increased marine fuel costs by requiring bunker suppliers to blend renewable fuels or purchase emissions reduction units, while also limiting the use of used cooking oil as a feedstock. “ Price increase is resulting in bunker demand shifting to neighbouring ports Ship & Bunker had reported this week that Rotterdam conventional and biofuel sales declined by 25.7% year-on-year to 1.75 million mt in Q2 2026 . The paper contrasts the Dutch approach with Belgium and Germany , arguing that the resulting price gap is shifting bunker demand to neighbouring ports. Belgium’s Port of Antwerp-Bruges reported a 5.5% year-on-year increase in conventi