The quality of fuel in European ports has been extensively reviewed, and the new Neptune Bunker report provides important information from April to September 2026. This information helps members of the maritime industry identify fuel quality trends in different regions and stay informed about existing risks.
Technical Results and Existing Issues
In this report, several ports with high levels of non-compliant technical results in the residual fuel and low-sulfur fuel sectors have been identified. Based on HFO samples, the highest percentage of technical non-compliance was recorded in the Port of Antwerp at 46.2%, followed by Norrköping at 41.4%, the Panama Canal at 38.0%, and Rotterdam at 35.5%. The existing issues in these ports include density, viscosity, water content, and problems related to catalysts and ash. These figures are significantly higher than reports from other major bunkering centers.
Low-Sulfur Fuel Issues
In the VLSFO sector, non-compliance with sulfur standards requires more attention in Europe. Rotterdam samples show a sulfur non-compliance rate of 68.6%, and Antwerp samples show 58.9%, which are the highest levels in this dataset. Although the number of samples in these ports is significantly lower than in other major bunkering ports, these results emphasize the importance of maintaining resilient fuel supply, testing, and management practices, especially concerning emission control regulatory requirements.
Challenges of Low-Sulfur Fuel and Management Insights
In the ULSFO category, the highest percentages of technical non-compliance were reported in Barcelona at 70.3% and Genoa at 51.0%. In both ports, the results were primarily related to non-compliance with pour point and emphasize the need for careful attention to storage and handling requirements, especially when low ambient temperatures may become operationally significant.
Industry members are encouraged to continue adhering to fuel testing and management practices and to utilize Neptune's fuel quality information in assessing supply risks and preparing bunkering plans.
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