AMSTERDAM – Inland shipping vessels in the Netherlands are buying less fuel this week following a sharp rise in diesel prices, according to several bunker stations serving the sector.
Operators report a noticeable slowdown in activity compared with the previous week, when demand for fuel surged as ship operators rushed to fill their tanks before prices climbed further.
A staff member at OK Slurink said the situation changed quickly. “Last Monday it was crazy. Even ships that were not empty wanted to fill their tanks. It was very hectic for us. Since then it has become much quieter,” the employee said.
Similar trends were observed at Bunkerstation Delta in Dordrecht and at a bunker facility operated by Terlouw Bunkerstation.
According to Leendert Romijn, financial director of Bunkerstation Delta, demand last week was higher than usual but has since slowed. “Last week it was busier than normal. Now it is quieter,” he said.
Ships expected to return
Despite the temporary slowdown, operators expect ships will eventually return to refuel, since vessels cannot operate without fuel. However, bunker stations say that if diesel prices remain high, ships may opt to refill only partially rather than topping up their tanks.
A spokesperson for Koninklijke Binnenvaart Nederland explained that the frequency with which vessels bunker fuel varies depending on ship size and sailing patterns, but typically occurs about once every two weeks.
Impact on consumers
The industry group warned that rising fuel prices will ultimately affect consumers.
“If fuel costs are high, transport costs increase, and that leads to higher prices for consumers,” the spokesperson said, noting that the exact impact on retail prices is still uncertain.