The Port of Rotterdam reports that total sales of conventional bunkers and biofuel blends fell slightly in the third quarter of 2025, even as alternative fuels reached record-breaking levels. Total bunker sales stood at 2.33 million metric tonnes (mt) — a decline of 2.8% from Q2 and 4% year-on-year, according to the latest data from the port authority.
While overall volumes softened, the figures highlight a clear shift in fueling trends. Both biofuels and LNG posted substantial gains, marking a strong move toward cleaner energy alternatives in Europe’s busiest port.
Biofuel bunker sales surged to 198,515 mt, a 20.1% quarterly and 44.7% annual increase, reaching their highest level since mid-2024. Similarly, LNG bunker volumes climbed 34.7% from the previous quarter and 22.8% year-on-year to 270,254 m³, surpassing the previous record of 263,068 m³ set in late 2024.
However, bio-LNG activity dipped to 960 m³ from 4,752 m³ in Q2, while bio-methanol volumes also slipped to 2,371 mt.
Among conventional fuels, VLSFO saw the steepest fall, down 24.1% year-on-year to 635,638 mt, marking its fourth consecutive quarterly decline. HSFO dropped 3.8%, but still represented 37% of total bunker sales, up from 34% a year earlier. ULSFO, on the other hand, grew 12% to 232,720 mt.
Middle distillate fuels showed mixed results — marine gas oil (MGO) sales jumped 36.3%, while marine diesel oil (MDO) fell 28.6% to 75,938 mt.
For the first nine months of 2025, Rotterdam recorded 7.02 million mt in total bunker and biofuel blend sales, slightly below the 7.09 million mt registered over the same period last year.
The Port of Rotterdam Authority — jointly owned by the Municipality of Rotterdam and the Dutch State — continues to oversee the port’s infrastructure, safety, and environmental operations as it navigates a growing demand for sustainable marine fuels.
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Source: Port of Rotterdam
