European marine bunkering market shift

In early July 2026, Dan‑Bunkering reported a $36.4 million profit, noting a 5 % rise in bunker volumes for the 2025/26 year. By the end of the month, data from the Port of Rotterdam showed a sharp reversal: bunker fuel sales fell 25.1 % year‑on‑year, with fossil marine fuels such as Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil, High Sulphur Fuel Oil and Ultra Low Sulphur Fuel Oil all dropping by 24‑46 %. At the same time, alternative fuels, especially bio‑LNG and a new bio‑ethanol bunkering operation, grew 28 %. Dutch maritime groups blamed the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) for higher marine‑fuel costs and the restriction on using used cooking oil, arguing that the regulatory disparity with neighbouring Belgium and Germany was pushing vessels to bunker elsewhere, as indicated by a 5.5 % increase in fuel sales at the Port of Antwerp‑Bruges. The combined snapshots illustrate a brief period of volume growth for a major bunkering firm followed by a broader market contraction in traditional marine fuels across the Netherlands, driven by EU renewable regulations and a shift toward alternative fuels.