Maritime shipping bunkered slightly less fuel in Rotterdam in 2024, but demand for LNG rose by 52 percent

Last year, maritime shipping bunkered 9.8 million tonnes of fuel in Rotterdam, a moderate decrease from 9.9 million tons in 2023. In that year, the demand for fuel oil, marine gas oil, and other fuels was 0.9 percent lower than in 2022. It was notable that the demand for LNG in 2024 rebounded to previous levels after a decline during the period of inflated gas prices. Totalling 0.94 million m³, the demand for LNG increased by 52 percent compared to 2023, when 0.62 million m³ was bunkered.

Following the inaugural bunkering of bio-methanol in the port of Rotterdam in 2023, the demand for bio-methanol surged in 2024, reaching nearly 4,000 tons, a remarkable increase from 750 tons in 2023.

Dichotomy in bio-blends

The demand for bio-blended fuels in 2024 exhibited a clear dichotomy: a slight growth in the first half of the year, followed by a sharp decline in the second half. That was particularly evident in the demand for bio-blended VLSFO, the largest of the bio-blends. The increased availability of bio-blended fuels in Asia following the imposition of anti-dumping duties on Chinese biofuel was the primary cause.

Nonetheless, the demand for bio-blends remained unchanged from 2023 at 750,000 tonnes.