For much of the past two years, Singapore has been the undisputed leader in bio-bunkering, benefiting from its status as the world's busiest bunkering hub and a growing appetite for lower-carbon marine fuels. But the latest quarterly data suggests that the competitive landscape is changing.
In the second quarter of 2026, Rotterdam overtook Singapore in reported bio-bunker sales for the first time since Q3 2024. This marks a significant milestone for Europe's marine fuels market.
It's important to note that a single quarter does not necessarily establish a lasting trend. However, the figures point to an important shift driven by regulation, pricing incentives, and evolving fuel demand.
According to a Prima CarbonZero analyst report, the Port of Rotterdam's bio-bunker sales more than doubled the total tonnage reported in the previous quarter. Bio-blended VLSFO accounted for the largest share of growth, followed by increases in bio-blended MGO, HSFO, ULSFO, and MDO.
Bio-methanol and bio-blended LNG remained comparatively small segments. But both continued to demonstrate meaningful activity relative to historical levels.
The increase was notable not only in absolute volume but also in market penetration. Bio-bunkers accounted for about 13% of Rotterdam's total bunker sales in Q2, up from over 6% in Q1. The change reflects both stronger demand for renewable fuels and a modest decline in conventional bunker volumes.
By comparison, Singapore's estimated bio-bunker sales were less during the quarter based on reported monthly sales data, placing Rotterdam ahead for the first time in nearly two years.
Rotterdam's rise coincided with a sharp slowdown in Singapore.
June 2026 marked another month of declining bio-bunker activity and the lowest monthly level reported since February 2024. Every reported biofuel category weakened during the month, including bio-blended HSFO, bio-blended LSFO, and B100.
The decline was even more pronounced compared with June 2025, when Singapore recorded one of its strongest monthly performances on record. No methanol or ammonia bunker sales were reported for June.
The monthly figures extend a broader downward trend highlighted in the July market review. This suggests that Singapore's bio-bunkering market has lost momentum after leading global volumes through much of 2025.
While demand remains an important driver, the data suggest that policy is increasingly shaping where shipowners bunker renewable fuels.
The Netherlands has implemented RED III for the marine sector through a certificate-based mechanism that creates rebates for qualifying bio-bunker blends. During July, higher Dutch ZRE maritime certificate prices further increased those rebates, improving the economics of bunkering biofuels in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam is currently the only major bunkering hub in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region to implement this certificate-based system. According to Burando Energies, this has helped make Rotterdam one of Europe's most cost-competitive ports for biofuel bunkering.
This impact extends beyond renewable fuels. Earlier in 2026, higher fossil bunkering costs associated with Dutch renewable fuel mandates led to a shift in conventional bunker volumes toward Antwerp-Bruges. By Q2, however, Rotterdam's strong growth in bio-bunker demand helped offset declining conventional fuel sales and significantly increased the share of renewable fuels within its overall bunker market.
Rotterdam was not the only European port reporting increased activity in renewable fuels.
Antwerp-Bruges also recorded an increase in quarterly bio-bunker volumes, with sales rising from 20,726 tons in Q1 to 26,833 tons in Q2. Although these volumes remain well below Rotterdam's, they indicate continued expansion of biofuel use across Europe's principal bunkering hubs.
The wider ARA market likewise showed a growing bio-bunker market share during the quarter. This reinforces the view that renewable marine fuels are becoming a larger component of regional bunker demand rather than remaining a niche segment.
Whether Rotterdam retains its lead remains to be seen. Singapore continues to offer unmatched global connectivity and remains the world's largest overall bunkering hub. Quarterly results can also be influenced by vessel scheduling, procurement strategies and temporary market dynamics.
Nevertheless, Q2 2026 highlights an increasingly important reality for marine fuel markets: competitiveness is no longer determined solely by geography or logistics. Policy frameworks, renewable fuel incentives, and carbon compliance mechanisms are increasingly shaping where biofuels are sourced and bunkered.
For shipowners navigating tightening decarbonization requirements, these factors will likely become just as important as traditional considerations such as fuel availability and port infrastructure.
As renewable fuel markets mature, competition between global bunkering hubs may increasingly be decided not only by who can supply the fuel but also by who can create the most appealing commercial environment for its use.
ResourceWise’s Bio-Bunkering at a Glance report provides a monthly snapshot of the key market signals influencing marine biofuel adoption, including bunker sales, regional pricing, feedstock benchmarks, compliance costs, and major industry developments.