The Dutch port of Rotterdam said its LNG bunkering volumes reached a record level in 2023 as prices dropped from 2022 and demand continues to increase.
Europe’s largest bunkering port reported LNG volumes of 619,243 cubic meters in 2023, a rise of 53 percent compared to 406,599 cbm in 2022 when volumes dropped considerably due to high prices.
However, LNG bunkering volumes also rose 2.6 percent compared to record 603,690 cbm in 2021.
During the fourth quarter last year, LNG bunkering volumes reached 148,933 cbm, down from the previous quarter’s 204,418 cbm.
The port of Rotterdam said that only its LNG bunkering volumes increased last year due to lower prices of the fuel.
Last year, shipping firms bunkered less fuel in the port Rotterdam with volumes reaching 9.9 million tonnes, down 6.7 percent from 10.6 million tonnes in 2022, it said.
The Rotterdam port is home to Gasunie’s and Vopak’s Gate LNG import terminal.
Gate LNG also handled a record number of vessels last year mainly due to a rise in demand for LNG as fuel.
Gate’s small-scale jetty, which launched operations in 2016, handled record 151 vessels, loading close to 900,000 cbm of LNG last year.
Earlier this month, classification society DNV said that there are now 1006 LNG-powered vessels in operation on order, showing the fuel’s continued importance in the maritime energy transition.
These statistics do not include dual-fuel LNG carriers and smaller inland vessels.