Delivery & Sales Rules

New rules for delivering and selling products.

Changes since November 2025 in Rotterdam: product handling and trading at the Port of Rotterdam.

Port of Rotterdam

Changes since November 2025

Product handling and trading at the Port of Rotterdam follow new rules. They apply to every seller and buyer who delivers or takes product through Rotterdam.

Please read the six points carefully and prepare your documents before nominating a vessel.

The rules

Six requirements

1

Registered owner

The seller must be officially registered in the port as the owner of the product / allocation.

2

UDTA & SGS seal verification

The seller must provide SGS with a UDTA for physical verification of the seals. These documents must be sent from the seller's corporate e-mail to SGS Rotterdam, with the buyer in CC of the e-mail. The buyer bears the costs of the verification required by SGS.

3

No tank-to-tank operation

There is no “tank-to-tank” operation in Rotterdam. The buyer therefore submits their Q88 after SGS confirms the product and before the SGS inspection appointment.

4

Alternative communication

If the seller is not willing to open communication with SGS, they can open direct communication between their terminal and the buyer's shipping agent (official terminals only, no sub-charter companies allowed). This communication serves to confirm the existence of the product by VOPAK / VTTI / team and the shipper.

5

Title-Holder & mandate

If you are not the Title-Holder, a Mandat given by the Title-Holder is required.

6

Required documents

The Bill of Lading, the IMO number and the SGS report are required.

Sequence

How the process runs

Ownership

Seller is registered in the port as owner of the product / allocation.

UDTA to SGS

Seller sends the UDTA from the corporate e-mail to SGS Rotterdam, buyer in CC.

SGS confirms

SGS verifies the seals and confirms the product.

Q88

Buyer submits the Q88 after SGS confirmation and before the inspection appointment.

Inspection

SGS inspection; Bill of Lading, IMO number and SGS report are provided.

Checklist

Documents to prepare

  • Proof of registration as owner of the product / allocation in the port
  • UDTA for SGS, sent from the seller’s corporate e-mail (buyer in CC)
  • Q88 of the vessel (buyer), after SGS confirmation
  • Mandat from the Title-Holder, if the seller is not the Title-Holder
  • Bill of Lading
  • IMO number
  • SGS report

Please note

The buyer bears the costs of the verification required by SGS. Direct terminal-to-agent communication is possible for official terminals only; sub-charter companies are not accepted.

Trading procedures

Questions about delivery in Rotterdam?

Our trading desk will guide you through the requirements for your transaction.

Send an enquiry